Land Rover Defender Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Land Rover Defender car check
Is the Land Rover Defender reliable? We analysed 2,960,045 real MOT tests across 181,953 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Land Rover Defender? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Land Rover Defender is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber has an excessively worn bush, brake pipe excessively corroded and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Land Rover Defender.
Land Rover Defender Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Land Rover Defender. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Land Rover Defender MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Land Rover Defender to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Land Rover Defender Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Land Rover Defender fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Land Rover Defender Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Land Rover Defender owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Land Rover Defender MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Land Rover Defender year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 53 | 94.3% | 17,559 | 24,643 | 34,815 |
| 2021 | 158 | 91.1% | 14,610 | 28,385 | 46,104 |
| 2020 | 201 | 93.5% | 22,671 | 31,069 | 46,681 |
| 2019 | 54 | 77.8% | 18,294 | 68,842 | 85,537 |
| 2018 | 50 | 82.0% | 11,471 | 70,190 | 112,488 |
| 2017 | 171 | 76.6% | 11,962 | 29,252 | 48,756 |
| 2016 | 17,202 | 85.6% | 10,442 | 23,481 | 42,447 |
| 2015 | 70,332 | 83.4% | 19,483 | 34,493 | 55,553 |
| 2014 | 71,645 | 81.5% | 25,347 | 41,633 | 63,596 |
| 2013 | 61,927 | 79.7% | 29,049 | 46,227 | 69,606 |
| 2012 | 60,801 | 78.3% | 30,527 | 49,149 | 73,718 |
| 2011 | 72,095 | 77.8% | 35,567 | 56,514 | 84,968 |
| 2010 | 76,884 | 77.0% | 37,083 | 58,096 | 84,481 |
| 2009 | 75,458 | 75.9% | 38,200 | 60,456 | 87,962 |
| 2008 | 89,044 | 76.0% | 41,422 | 66,184 | 95,688 |
| 2007 | 99,813 | 75.6% | 44,194 | 68,492 | 98,293 |
| 2006 | 103,155 | 74.7% | 45,608 | 72,296 | 105,366 |
| 2005 | 116,513 | 74.3% | 48,900 | 76,444 | 110,208 |
| 2004 | 129,253 | 74.0% | 52,164 | 81,117 | 115,310 |
| 2003 | 143,667 | 73.7% | 55,072 | 86,068 | 122,224 |
How Long Does a Land Rover Defender Last?
Based on 181,953 Land Rover Defender vehicles on UK roads.
Land Rover Defender Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Land Rover Defender MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Land Rover Defender
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
94.3% MOT pass rate from 53 tests
67.1% MOT pass rate from 1,202 tests
The best year to buy a used Land Rover Defender is 2022, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 94.3% across 53 tests. The 1981 model year has the lowest pass rate at 67.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Land Rover Defender Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land Rover Defender THIS CAR | 72.3% | 2,960,045 | 94,788 mi | 43 yrs |
| Land Rover Discovery | 72.7% | 4,388,972 | 108,947 mi | 36 yrs |
| Land Rover Freelander | 74.7% | 4,326,495 | 85,110 mi | 28 yrs |
| Land Rover Range Rover | 77.9% | 2,072,334 | 92,174 mi | 39 yrs |
| Mazda MX-5 | 76.5% | 2,502,760 | 63,190 mi | 36 yrs |
Compared to the Land Rover Discovery (72.7% pass rate) and the Land Rover Freelander (74.7% pass rate), the Land Rover Defender trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Land Rover Defender you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Land Rover DefenderShould you buy a used Land Rover Defender?
The Land Rover Defender has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.3% across 2,960,045 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Land Rover Defender are shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (77,499 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (77,229), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (57,749). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Land Rover Defender owner drives around 3,550 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Land Rover Defender models stay on UK roads for around 43 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.