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Land Rover Forward Control Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Land Rover Forward Control car check

Is the Land Rover Forward Control reliable? We analysed 1,688 real MOT tests across 165 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,688 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
73.4%
Typical Mileage
75,160mi
Annual Mileage
1,224mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
57yrs

The Land Rover Forward Control is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, brake pipe excessively corroded and suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Land Rover Forward Control.

Land Rover Forward Control Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Land Rover Forward Control. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Land Rover Forward Control MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Land Rover Forward Control to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

72.4%
1998
75%
1997
81.3%
1995
69.6%
1994
78.8%
1992
66.7%
1989
79.4%
1988
72.1%
1987
69.1%
1986
71.3%
1985
61.9%
1984
70.6%
1969

Land Rover Forward Control Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Land Rover Forward Control fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 64
Brake pipe excessively corroded 56
Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 50
position lamp(s) not working 48
Stop lamp not working 37
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 36
Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush 33
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 32
Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 32
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 30

Land Rover Forward Control Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Land Rover Forward Control owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
358 mi/yr
Typical
1,224 mi/yr
Average
2,507 mi/yr
Heavy usage
3,163 mi/yr

Land Rover Forward Control MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Land Rover Forward Control year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1998 76 72.4% 22,636 64,156 79,805
1997 76 75.0% 20,097 65,896 87,760
1995 64 81.3% 39,088 70,885 87,236
1994 135 69.6% 25,475 49,424 116,479
1992 52 78.8% 31,104 47,441 115,648
1989 51 66.7% 84,623 125,104 126,427
1988 97 79.4% 57,370 75,943 154,785
1987 136 72.1% 100,094 142,226 161,201
1986 175 69.1% 113,675 145,882 162,964
1985 136 71.3% 61,320 78,762 174,516
1984 160 61.9% 42,040 93,311 148,582
1969 51 70.6% 12,225 72,346 87,846

How Long Does a Land Rover Forward Control Last?

Based on 165 Land Rover Forward Control vehicles on UK roads.

Average
30.6 years
Median
30.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
57 years

Land Rover Forward Control Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Land Rover Forward Control MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
75,160 mi
75th Percentile
129,025 mi
95th Percentile
202,408 mi
Max Recorded
614,782 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Land Rover Forward Control

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1995

81.3% MOT pass rate from 64 tests

Year to avoid
1984

61.9% MOT pass rate from 160 tests

The best year to buy a used Land Rover Forward Control is 1995, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 81.3% across 64 tests. The 1984 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.9% — 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 Forward Control Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Land Rover Forward Control THIS CAR 73.4% 1,688 75,160 mi 57 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
Ford F100 82.8% 1,267 40,016 mi 21 yrs

Compared to the Land Rover Discovery (72.7% pass rate) and the Land Rover Freelander (74.7% pass rate), the Land Rover Forward Control sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Land Rover Forward Control?

The Land Rover Forward Control has an overall MOT pass rate of 73.4% across 1,688 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Land Rover Forward Control are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (64 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (56), and suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (50). 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 Forward Control owner drives around 1,224 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 Forward Control models stay on UK roads for around 57 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.

Land Rover Forward Control — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Land Rover Forward Control reliable?
Based on 1,688 MOT tests, the Land Rover Forward Control has a 73.4% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Land Rover Forward Control?
The most common MOT failures are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, brake pipe excessively corroded, and suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Land Rover Forward Control do per year?
The typical Land Rover Forward Control does around 1,224 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Land Rover Forward Control last?
Most Land Rover Forward Control models stay on UK roads for around 57 years based on our analysis of 165 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Land Rover Forward Control?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Land Rover Forward Control?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Land Rover Forward Control is 1995 with a 81.3% pass rate across 64 tests.