Land Rover Defender reliability
MOT pass rates & common faults · 187,077 real DVSA tests · 2024
Across 187,077 real DVSA MOT tests in 2024, 66% of Land Rover Defender cars aged 13 years and older pass their MOT first time — ahead of the 61% average for all cars of that age. The faults that come up more than usual are in steering.
MOT pass rate by age
Where the Defender tends to fail
Share of Land Rover Defender cars aged 13 years and older with no fault in each area (higher is better). The tick is the fleet average for the same age.
Fails more often than average on steering. Holds up better than average on tyres, road wheels, emissions & leaks.
Common questions
Is the Land Rover Defender reliable?
On 2024 MOT data the Land Rover Defender holds up well for its age: 66% of examples aged 13 years and older pass first time, against a 61% fleet average. That puts it ahead of 58% of similar-age models. Give steering a close look on any one you view.
What is the MOT pass rate for a Land Rover Defender?
First-time MOT pass rates for the Land Rover Defender in 2024: 8 to 12 years, 79%; and 13 years and older, 66%. Pass rates fall with age across the whole fleet, so compare each figure with cars of the same age, not with a new car.
What commonly fails on a Land Rover Defender MOT?
For Land Rover Defender cars aged 13 years and older, the areas that fail an MOT more often than the fleet average are steering (4.9% of tests vs 2.3% fleet).