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Land Rover SERIES2 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Land Rover SERIES2 car check

Is the Land Rover SERIES2 reliable? We analysed 1,135 real MOT tests across 118 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,135 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
72.7%
Typical Mileage
45,570mi
Annual Mileage
403mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
66yrs

The Land Rover SERIES2 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 SERIES2.

Land Rover SERIES2 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Land Rover SERIES2. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Land Rover SERIES2 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Land Rover SERIES2 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

65.4%
1971
83.3%
1970
61.1%
1969
75.9%
1968
71.9%
1966
69.1%
1963
75%
1962
81%
1961
83.9%
1960

Land Rover SERIES2 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Land Rover SERIES2 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 81
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 43
Stop lamp not working 39
Headlamp not working on main beam 39
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 36
position lamp(s) not working 36
Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 36
brake binding 34
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 29
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 26

Land Rover SERIES2 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Land Rover SERIES2 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
117 mi/yr
Typical
403 mi/yr
Average
1,752 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,090 mi/yr

Land Rover SERIES2 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Land Rover SERIES2 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1971 52 65.4% 52,043 53,288 85,165
1970 90 83.3% 14,918 47,586 78,030
1969 72 61.1% 28,076 36,630 60,685
1968 54 75.9% 22,156 58,734 99,083
1966 135 71.9% 29,526 55,313 78,007
1963 68 69.1% 21,197 52,031 54,379
1962 68 75.0% 33,610 37,604 46,118
1961 116 81.0% 27,980 68,460 86,698
1960 62 83.9% 9,317 26,943 33,928

How Long Does a Land Rover SERIES2 Last?

Based on 118 Land Rover SERIES2 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
43.4 years
Median
46.5 years
Estimated max lifespan
66 years

Land Rover SERIES2 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Land Rover SERIES2 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
45,570 mi
75th Percentile
77,702 mi
95th Percentile
98,994 mi
Max Recorded
740,628 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Land Rover SERIES2

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

Best year
1960

83.9% MOT pass rate from 62 tests

Year to avoid
1969

61.1% MOT pass rate from 72 tests

The best year to buy a used Land Rover SERIES2 is 1960, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 83.9% across 62 tests. The 1969 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.1% — 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 SERIES2 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Land Rover SERIES2 THIS CAR 72.7% 1,135 45,570 mi 66 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
Peugeot Bipper S HDI 81.4% 1,191 102,907 mi — yrs

Compared to the Land Rover Discovery (72.7% pass rate) and the Land Rover Freelander (74.7% pass rate), the Land Rover SERIES2 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Land Rover SERIES2?

The Land Rover SERIES2 has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.7% across 1,135 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Land Rover SERIES2 are suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (81 recorded failures), windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (43), and stop lamp not working (39). 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 SERIES2 owner drives around 403 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 SERIES2 models stay on UK roads for around 66 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 SERIES2 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Land Rover SERIES2 reliable?
Based on 1,135 MOT tests, the Land Rover SERIES2 has a 72.7% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Land Rover SERIES2?
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 SERIES2 do per year?
The typical Land Rover SERIES2 does around 403 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Land Rover SERIES2 last?
Most Land Rover SERIES2 models stay on UK roads for around 66 years based on our analysis of 118 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Land Rover SERIES2?
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 SERIES2?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Land Rover SERIES2 is 1960 with a 83.9% pass rate across 62 tests.