1998 Land Rover Defender 130 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

68.8%

Latest Pass Rate

1,028

Total Tests (All Years)

167,229 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 1998 Land Rover Defender 130 as it ages.

11 yrs63.4%

→ ↓7.2%

12 yrs56.2%

→ ↑2.7%

13 yrs58.9%

→ ↓5.3%

14 yrs53.6%

→ ↑1.3%

15 yrs54.9%

→ ↓1.8%

16 yrs53.1%

→ ↓5.0%

17 yrs48.1%

→ ↑11.1%

18 yrs59.2%

→ ↑0.4%

19 yrs59.6%

→ ↑12.3%

20 yrs71.9%

→ ↓3.1%

21 yrs68.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	63.4%	131
12 yrs	56.2%	121
13 yrs	58.9%	124
14 yrs	53.6%	112
15 yrs	54.9%	102
16 yrs	53.1%	113
17 yrs	48.1%	106
18 yrs	59.2%	103
19 yrs	59.6%	52
20 yrs	71.9%	32
21 yrs	68.8%	32

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Land Rover Defender 130 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2019 (21 yrs)	68.8%	32
2018 (20 yrs)	71.9%	32
2017 (19 yrs)	59.6%	52
2016 (18 yrs)	59.2%	103
2015 (17 yrs)	48.1%	106
2014 (16 yrs)	53.1%	113
2013 (15 yrs)	54.9%	102
2012 (14 yrs)	53.6%	112
2011 (13 yrs)	58.9%	124
2010 (12 yrs)	56.2%	121
2009 (11 yrs)	63.4%	131

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

63.4%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 131Avg Mileage 123,350Top Failure Suspension — 21.4%

2010High Fail Rate

56.2%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 121Avg Mileage 129,711Top Failure Suspension — 24.8%

2011High Fail Rate

58.9%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 124Avg Mileage 132,800Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.2%

2012High Fail Rate

53.6%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 112Avg Mileage 141,411Top Failure Suspension — 33.0%

2013High Fail Rate

54.9%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 102Avg Mileage 142,164Top Failure Suspension — 104.9%

2014High Fail Rate

53.1%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 113Avg Mileage 151,625Top Failure Suspension — 83.2%

2015High Fail Rate

48.1%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 106Avg Mileage 151,593Top Failure Suspension — 109.4%

2016High Fail Rate

59.2%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 103Avg Mileage 148,758Top Failure Suspension — 102.9%

2017High Fail Rate

59.6%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 52Avg Mileage 142,375Top Failure Suspension — 90.4%

2018

71.9%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 32Avg Mileage 167,995Top Failure Suspension — 112.5%

2019

68.8%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 32Avg Mileage 167,229Top Failure Suspension — 71.9%

MOT results for 1998 Land Rover Defender 130 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	63.4%	131	123,350	Suspension — 21.4%
2010	12	56.2%	121	129,711	Suspension — 24.8%
2011	13	58.9%	124	132,800	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.2%
2012	14	53.6%	112	141,411	Suspension — 33.0%
2013	15	54.9%	102	142,164	Suspension — 104.9%
2014	16	53.1%	113	151,625	Suspension — 83.2%
2015	17	48.1%	106	151,593	Suspension — 109.4%
2016	18	59.2%	103	148,758	Suspension — 102.9%
2017	19	59.6%	52	142,375	Suspension — 90.4%
2018	20	71.9%	32	167,995	Suspension — 112.5%
2019	21	68.8%	32	167,229	Suspension — 71.9%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Land Rover Defender 130, with age trends.

Suspension

70.6%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

50.0%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

40.4%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

34.4%

— Consistent

Steering

25.8%

↑ 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
Suspension	21.4% (11 yrs)	71.9% (21 yrs)	+50.5%	🔴 ↑
Steering	13.7% (11 yrs)	28.1% (21 yrs)	+14.4%	🔴 ↑

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 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2019, covering 1,028 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.