Land Rover Discovery Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Land Rover Discovery car check
Is the Land Rover Discovery reliable? We analysed 4,388,972 real MOT tests across 325,470 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Land Rover Discovery? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Land Rover Discovery is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded and body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Land Rover Discovery.
Land Rover Discovery Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Land Rover Discovery. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Land Rover Discovery MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Land Rover Discovery to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Land Rover Discovery Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Land Rover Discovery fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Land Rover Discovery Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Land Rover Discovery owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Land Rover Discovery MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Land Rover Discovery year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 69 | 91.3% | 37,461 | 44,102 | 56,958 |
| 2020 | 337 | 89.9% | 26,921 | 40,506 | 58,791 |
| 2019 | 12,071 | 88.1% | 34,198 | 49,548 | 68,966 |
| 2018 | 57,567 | 87.9% | 34,999 | 50,619 | 70,700 |
| 2017 | 80,047 | 87.0% | 37,571 | 53,456 | 73,261 |
| 2016 | 90,703 | 84.4% | 42,401 | 61,964 | 86,041 |
| 2015 | 96,943 | 84.6% | 47,621 | 69,495 | 95,723 |
| 2014 | 88,988 | 83.2% | 50,984 | 74,530 | 102,159 |
| 2013 | 87,682 | 81.5% | 55,492 | 81,865 | 111,137 |
| 2012 | 105,630 | 80.8% | 57,636 | 85,838 | 115,841 |
| 2011 | 105,739 | 80.1% | 60,718 | 90,580 | 121,974 |
| 2010 | 125,954 | 79.1% | 62,783 | 94,035 | 126,322 |
| 2009 | 114,003 | 76.5% | 64,395 | 96,362 | 129,609 |
| 2008 | 130,904 | 74.3% | 68,142 | 100,970 | 134,874 |
| 2007 | 203,073 | 73.9% | 69,185 | 102,533 | 137,504 |
| 2006 | 251,642 | 72.5% | 70,828 | 105,913 | 142,425 |
| 2005 | 272,213 | 73.1% | 72,590 | 108,693 | 146,111 |
| 2004 | 253,146 | 73.2% | 68,822 | 101,786 | 136,926 |
| 2003 | 260,092 | 73.2% | 68,037 | 100,620 | 134,802 |
| 2002 | 244,278 | 71.8% | 74,494 | 106,192 | 139,724 |
How Long Does a Land Rover Discovery Last?
Based on 325,470 Land Rover Discovery vehicles on UK roads.
Land Rover Discovery Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Land Rover Discovery 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 Discovery
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
91.3% MOT pass rate from 69 tests
60.3% MOT pass rate from 63 tests
The best year to buy a used Land Rover Discovery is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.3% across 69 tests. The 1986 model year has the lowest pass rate at 60.3% — 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 Discovery Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land Rover Discovery THIS CAR | 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 |
| Land Rover Range Rover | 77.9% | 2,072,334 | 92,174 mi | 39 yrs |
| Peugeot 106 | 65.4% | 2,880,076 | 75,654 mi | 34 yrs |
Compared to the Land Rover Freelander (74.7% pass rate) and the Land Rover Defender (72.3% pass rate), the Land Rover Discovery sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Land Rover Discovery you like?
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Check a specific Land Rover DiscoveryShould you buy a used Land Rover Discovery?
The Land Rover Discovery has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.7% across 4,388,972 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Land Rover Discovery are brake pipe excessively corroded (153,632 recorded failures), seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (141,712), and body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (136,366). 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 Discovery owner drives around 6,904 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 Discovery models stay on UK roads for around 36 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.