1997 Land Rover Defender 130 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

61.8%

Latest Pass Rate

824

Total Tests (All Years)

137,445 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 Land Rover Defender 130 as it ages.

12 yrs56.8%

→ ↓8.3%

13 yrs48.5%

→ ↓0.7%

14 yrs47.8%

→ ↑9.3%

15 yrs57.1%

→ ↓10.0%

16 yrs47.1%

→ ↓1.4%

17 yrs45.7%

→ ↑10.1%

18 yrs55.8%

→ ↑1.9%

19 yrs57.7%

→ ↑3.2%

20 yrs60.9%

→ ↑0.9%

22 yrs61.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	56.8%	95
13 yrs	48.5%	97
14 yrs	47.8%	92
15 yrs	57.1%	91
16 yrs	47.1%	87
17 yrs	45.7%	92
18 yrs	55.8%	86
19 yrs	57.7%	104
20 yrs	60.9%	46
22 yrs	61.8%	34

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Land Rover Defender 130 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2019 (22 yrs)	61.8%	34
2017 (20 yrs)	60.9%	46
2016 (19 yrs)	57.7%	104
2015 (18 yrs)	55.8%	86
2014 (17 yrs)	45.7%	92
2013 (16 yrs)	47.1%	87
2012 (15 yrs)	57.1%	91
2011 (14 yrs)	47.8%	92
2010 (13 yrs)	48.5%	97
2009 (12 yrs)	56.8%	95

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

56.8%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 95Avg Mileage 127,458Top Failure Suspension — 30.5%

2010High Fail Rate

48.5%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 97Avg Mileage 135,369Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.9%

2011High Fail Rate

47.8%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 92Avg Mileage 134,879Top Failure Suspension — 39.1%

2012High Fail Rate

57.1%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 91Avg Mileage 138,532Top Failure Suspension — 29.7%

2013High Fail Rate

47.1%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 87Avg Mileage 144,998Top Failure Suspension — 86.2%

2014High Fail Rate

45.7%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 92Avg Mileage 150,255Top Failure Suspension — 102.2%

2015High Fail Rate

55.8%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 86Avg Mileage 148,347Top Failure Suspension — 87.2%

2016High Fail Rate

57.7%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 104Avg Mileage 146,451Top Failure Suspension — 79.8%

2017High Fail Rate

60.9%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 46Avg Mileage 131,580Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 78.3%

2019High Fail Rate

61.8%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 34Avg Mileage 137,445Top Failure Body, chassis, structure — 44.1%

MOT results for 1997 Land Rover Defender 130 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	56.8%	95	127,458	Suspension — 30.5%
2010	13	48.5%	97	135,369	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.9%
2011	14	47.8%	92	134,879	Suspension — 39.1%
2012	15	57.1%	91	138,532	Suspension — 29.7%
2013	16	47.1%	87	144,998	Suspension — 86.2%
2014	17	45.7%	92	150,255	Suspension — 102.2%
2015	18	55.8%	86	148,347	Suspension — 87.2%
2016	19	57.7%	104	146,451	Suspension — 79.8%
2017	20	60.9%	46	131,580	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 78.3%
2019	22	61.8%	34	137,445	Body, chassis, structure — 44.1%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Land Rover Defender 130, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

54.8%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

54.5%

— Consistent

Body, chassis, structure

44.1%

— Consistent

Noise, emissions and leaks

38.2%

— Consistent

Brakes

32.5%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Steering	12.6% (12 yrs)	32.4% (22 yrs)	+19.8%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	30.5% (12 yrs)	32.4% (22 yrs)	+1.9%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Land Rover Defender 130 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Land Rover Defender 130 cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2019, covering 824 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.