Land Rover Defender 90 TD5 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Land Rover Defender 90 TD5 car check
Is the Land Rover Defender 90 TD5 reliable? We analysed 3,655 real MOT tests across 557 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Land Rover Defender 90 TD5? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Land Rover Defender 90 TD5 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Land Rover Defender 90 TD5.
Land Rover Defender 90 TD5 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Land Rover Defender 90 TD5. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Land Rover Defender 90 TD5 Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Land Rover Defender 90 TD5 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Land Rover Defender 90 TD5 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Land Rover Defender 90 TD5 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Land Rover Defender 90 TD5 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Land Rover Defender 90 TD5 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
How Does the Land Rover Defender 90 TD5 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 90 TD5 THIS CAR | 76.9% | 3,655 | 124,504 mi | — 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 Defender | 72.3% | 2,960,045 | 94,788 mi | 43 yrs |
| Ajs Dd | 74.8% | 2,573 | 3,914 mi | 18 yrs |
Compared to the Land Rover Discovery (72.7% pass rate) and the Land Rover Freelander (74.7% pass rate), the Land Rover Defender 90 TD5 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Land Rover Defender 90 TD5 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 Defender 90 TD5Should you buy a used Land Rover Defender 90 TD5?
The Land Rover Defender 90 TD5 has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.9% across 3,655 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is brake pad(s) incorrectly mounted. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Land Rover Defender 90 TD5 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Land Rover Defender 90 TD5 owner drives around 3,828 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.
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.