Land Rover Defender S D Auto Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Land Rover Defender S D Auto car check
Is the Land Rover Defender S D Auto reliable? We analysed 3,041 real MOT tests across 913 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Land Rover Defender S D Auto? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Land Rover Defender S D Auto 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 S D Auto.
Land Rover Defender S D Auto Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Land Rover Defender S D Auto. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Land Rover Defender S D Auto MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Land Rover Defender S D Auto to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Land Rover Defender S D Auto Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Land Rover Defender S D Auto models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Land Rover Defender S D Auto Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Land Rover Defender S D Auto owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Land Rover Defender S D Auto MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Land Rover Defender S D Auto year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 232 | 88.8% | 29,722 | 38,370 | 51,433 |
| 2020 | 2,724 | 91.3% | 26,533 | 37,434 | 49,909 |
How Long Does a Land Rover Defender S D Auto Last?
Based on 913 Land Rover Defender S D Auto vehicles on UK roads.
Land Rover Defender S D Auto Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Land Rover Defender S D Auto 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 S D Auto
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
91.3% MOT pass rate from 2,724 tests
88.8% MOT pass rate from 232 tests
The best year to buy a used Land Rover Defender S D Auto is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.3% across 2,724 tests. The 2021 model year has the lowest pass rate at 88.8% — 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 S D Auto 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 S D Auto THIS CAR | 91.1% | 3,041 | 37,673 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 |
| Ariel Leader | 93.2% | 1,148 | 15,411 mi | 67 yrs |
Compared to the Land Rover Discovery (72.7% pass rate) and the Land Rover Freelander (74.7% pass rate), the Land Rover Defender S D Auto outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Land Rover Defender S D Auto 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 S D AutoShould you buy a used Land Rover Defender S D Auto?
The Land Rover Defender S D Auto has an overall MOT pass rate of 91.1% across 3,041 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 tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Land Rover Defender S D Auto 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 S D Auto owner drives around 8,421 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.