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Land Rover Freelander Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Land Rover Freelander car check

Is the Land Rover Freelander reliable? We analysed 4,326,495 real MOT tests across 292,036 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 4,326,495 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
74.7%
Typical Mileage
85,110mi
Annual Mileage
6,744mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
28yrs

The Land Rover Freelander is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and track rod end ball joint has excessive play. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Land Rover Freelander.

Land Rover Freelander Number Plates

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

Land Rover Freelander MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

85.7%
2016
85.1%
2015
84.1%
2014
82.2%
2013
82.9%
2012
83%
2011
80.5%
2010
80.3%
2009
78.5%
2008
77.5%
2007
72.6%
2006
71.8%
2005
72.1%
2004
73%
2003
72.2%
2002
71%
2001
68.4%
2000
66.2%
1999
66.3%
1998
65.4%
1997

Land Rover Freelander Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Brake pipe excessively corroded 165,047
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 131,090
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 83,015
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 79,584
Stop lamp not working 70,651
position lamp(s) not working 54,811
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 47,490
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 39,449
Registration plate lamp not working 36,415

Land Rover Freelander Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
4,164 mi/yr
Typical
6,744 mi/yr
Average
7,578 mi/yr
Heavy usage
9,919 mi/yr

Land Rover Freelander MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2016 258 85.7% 35,868 50,884 72,179
2015 464 85.1% 40,057 59,338 92,346
2014 131,986 84.1% 41,472 61,581 86,159
2013 171,907 82.2% 45,828 68,849 95,460
2012 147,708 82.9% 48,166 72,988 101,304
2011 190,243 83.0% 52,282 79,702 109,697
2010 246,093 80.5% 54,703 83,835 115,230
2009 190,796 80.3% 56,493 87,440 119,759
2008 240,933 78.5% 61,198 93,880 127,396
2007 352,955 77.5% 63,168 96,726 131,126
2006 259,708 72.6% 57,539 86,882 117,091
2005 335,941 71.8% 56,311 84,354 114,112
2004 396,161 72.1% 55,882 83,922 113,522
2003 381,426 73.0% 56,993 84,706 114,885
2002 378,070 72.2% 60,510 86,923 117,731
2001 320,390 71.0% 61,529 84,207 111,270
2000 228,655 68.4% 64,303 83,816 106,782
1999 178,604 66.2% 71,682 90,594 112,766
1998 161,672 66.3% 77,979 97,183 119,459
1997 4,476 65.4% 77,867 94,239 115,453

How Long Does a Land Rover Freelander Last?

Based on 292,036 Land Rover Freelander vehicles on UK roads.

Average
13.8 years
Median
14.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
28 years

Land Rover Freelander Mileage Distribution

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

Median
85,110 mi
75th Percentile
114,729 mi
95th Percentile
161,403 mi
Max Recorded
1,601,876 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Land Rover Freelander

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

Best year
2016

85.7% MOT pass rate from 258 tests

Year to avoid
1997

65.4% MOT pass rate from 4,476 tests

The best year to buy a used Land Rover Freelander is 2016, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 85.7% across 258 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 65.4% — 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 Freelander Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Land Rover Freelander THIS CAR 74.7% 4,326,495 85,110 mi 28 yrs
Land Rover Discovery 72.7% 4,388,972 108,947 mi 36 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
Ford S-max 74.9% 1,368,227 78,805 mi 20 yrs

Compared to the Land Rover Discovery (72.7% pass rate) and the Land Rover Defender (72.3% pass rate), the Land Rover Freelander outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Land Rover Freelander?

The Land Rover Freelander has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.7% across 4,326,495 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Land Rover Freelander are brake pipe excessively corroded (165,047 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (131,090), and track rod end ball joint has excessive play (83,015). 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 Freelander owner drives around 6,744 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 Freelander models stay on UK roads for around 28 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 Freelander — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Land Rover Freelander reliable?
Based on 4,326,495 MOT tests, the Land Rover Freelander has a 74.7% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Land Rover Freelander?
The most common MOT failures are brake pipe excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and track rod end ball joint has excessive play. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Land Rover Freelander do per year?
The typical Land Rover Freelander does around 6,744 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Land Rover Freelander last?
Most Land Rover Freelander models stay on UK roads for around 28 years based on our analysis of 292,036 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Land Rover Freelander?
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 Freelander?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Land Rover Freelander is 2016 with a 85.7% pass rate across 258 tests.