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Land Rover Light Weight Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Land Rover Light Weight car check

Is the Land Rover Light Weight reliable? We analysed 2,171 real MOT tests across 209 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,171 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
72.7%
Typical Mileage
48,261mi
Annual Mileage
426mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
54yrs

The Land Rover Light Weight is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid and stop lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Land Rover Light Weight.

Land Rover Light Weight Number Plates

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

Land Rover Light Weight MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

80.4%
2000
62.7%
1998
76.6%
1992
67.2%
1991
66%
1988
67.9%
1987
66.7%
1986
70.1%
1984
74.1%
1983
66.7%
1982
82.2%
1981
73.8%
1980
73.3%
1979
76.7%
1972

Land Rover Light Weight Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 107
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 94
Stop lamp not working 79
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 57
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 53
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 44
Brake pipe excessively corroded 41
brake binding 41
Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush 40
Headlamp not working on main beam 40

Land Rover Light Weight Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
125 mi/yr
Typical
426 mi/yr
Average
1,446 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,110 mi/yr

Land Rover Light Weight MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2000 102 80.4% 7,102 41,414 68,086
1998 67 62.7% 4,937 18,091 55,182
1992 77 76.6% 32,358 40,264 66,436
1991 64 67.2% 39,865 54,395 60,868
1988 106 66.0% 10,228 57,723 66,057
1987 78 67.9% 33,048 77,598 80,128
1986 75 66.7% 73,749 76,372 143,779
1984 301 70.1% 34,690 46,461 74,689
1983 112 74.1% 28,761 48,261 57,055
1982 69 66.7% 51,209 54,121 74,536
1981 90 82.2% 37,394 55,442 68,437
1980 145 73.8% 44,615 67,886 96,625
1979 146 73.3% 23,790 36,099 58,819
1972 73 76.7% 5,697 31,737 54,998

How Long Does a Land Rover Light Weight Last?

Based on 209 Land Rover Light Weight vehicles on UK roads.

Average
31.5 years
Median
33.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
54 years

Land Rover Light Weight Mileage Distribution

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

Median
48,261 mi
75th Percentile
72,475 mi
95th Percentile
97,715 mi
Max Recorded
800,057 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Land Rover Light Weight

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

Best year
1981

82.2% MOT pass rate from 90 tests

Year to avoid
1998

62.7% MOT pass rate from 67 tests

The best year to buy a used Land Rover Light Weight is 1981, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 82.2% across 90 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 62.7% — 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 Light Weight Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Land Rover Light Weight THIS CAR 72.7% 2,171 48,261 mi 54 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 Thunderbird 82.1% 3,444 51,337 mi 64 yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Land Rover Light Weight?

The Land Rover Light Weight has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.7% across 2,171 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Land Rover Light Weight are suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (107 recorded failures), windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (94), and stop lamp not working (79). 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 Light Weight owner drives around 426 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 Light Weight models stay on UK roads for around 54 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 Light Weight — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Land Rover Light Weight reliable?
Based on 2,171 MOT tests, the Land Rover Light Weight has a 72.7% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Land Rover Light Weight?
The most common MOT failures are suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, and stop lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Land Rover Light Weight do per year?
The typical Land Rover Light Weight does around 426 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Land Rover Light Weight last?
Most Land Rover Light Weight models stay on UK roads for around 54 years based on our analysis of 209 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Land Rover Light Weight?
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 Light Weight?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Land Rover Light Weight is 1981 with a 82.2% pass rate across 90 tests.