Land Rover Defender SE D Auto Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Land Rover Defender SE D Auto car check
Is the Land Rover Defender SE D Auto reliable? We analysed 4,179 real MOT tests across 1,270 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Land Rover Defender SE D Auto? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Land Rover Defender SE 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 SE D Auto.
Land Rover Defender SE D Auto Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Land Rover Defender SE D Auto. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Land Rover Defender SE D Auto MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Land Rover Defender SE D Auto to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Land Rover Defender SE D Auto Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Land Rover Defender SE D Auto models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Land Rover Defender SE D Auto Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Land Rover Defender SE 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 SE 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 SE D Auto year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 473 | 92.6% | 26,618 | 37,853 | 48,964 |
| 2020 | 3,564 | 90.9% | 27,034 | 37,368 | 50,240 |
How Long Does a Land Rover Defender SE D Auto Last?
Based on 1,270 Land Rover Defender SE D Auto vehicles on UK roads.
Land Rover Defender SE D Auto Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Land Rover Defender SE 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 SE D Auto
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
92.6% MOT pass rate from 473 tests
90.9% MOT pass rate from 3,564 tests
The best year to buy a used Land Rover Defender SE D Auto is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.6% across 473 tests. The 2020 model year has the lowest pass rate at 90.9% — 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 SE 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 SE D Auto THIS CAR | 91.1% | 4,179 | 37,368 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 |
| Mini Countryman Cooper Sd ALL4 Auto | 83.3% | 3,357 | 59,658 mi | 15 yrs |
Compared to the Land Rover Discovery (72.7% pass rate) and the Land Rover Freelander (74.7% pass rate), the Land Rover Defender SE D Auto outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Land Rover Defender SE 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 SE D AutoShould you buy a used Land Rover Defender SE D Auto?
The Land Rover Defender SE D Auto has an overall MOT pass rate of 91.1% across 4,179 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 SE 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 SE D Auto owner drives around 8,830 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.