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2012 Land Rover Defender 90 Xs MOT Pass Rate

Pass rate for Defender 90 Xs models manufactured in 2012, based on 714 real MOT test results.

81.9%
Pass Rate
18.1%
Fail Rate
714
Total Tests
23,355
Avg Mileage

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

This page shows all Defender 90 Xs cars tested in 2012. Want to see how cars built in 2012 hold up over time?

View 2012 Land Rover Defender 90 Xs vintage page → (81.2% current pass rate)

2012 Land Rover Defender 90 Xs MOT Analysis

The 2012 Land Rover Defender 90 Xs has an MOT pass rate of 81.9% based on 714 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 23,355 miles on the odometer. With a 18.1% failure rate, the 2012 Defender 90 Xs is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.

The leading cause of MOT failure for the 2012 Land Rover Defender 90 Xs is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment, responsible for 10.2% of failures. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs range from £5–50. Driver's View of the Road is the second most common issue at 6.0%. Seat Belts and Supplementary Restraint Systems follows at 1.5%.

Top failures specific to 2012 models only. The overall Defender 90 Xs page may show different rankings.

What Fails Most

What Fails on This Car?

Click a category to see specific failure items.

View as table
MOT failure categories ranked by failure rate
RankFailure CategoryRate (%)Count
1Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment10.2%73
2Driver's View Of The Road6.0%43
3Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems1.5%11
4Suspension1.3%9
5Brakes1.0%7
6Tyres1.0%7
7Non-component Advisories0.6%4
8Registration Plates And Vin0.6%4
9Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions0.4%3
10Steering0.4%3
11Body, Structure And General Items0.1%1

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 23,355 mi

For every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.

Lamps & Electrical4.38% per 10K miVisibility2.58% per 10K miSeat Belts0.66% per 10K miSuspension0.54% per 10K miBrakes0.42% per 10K miTyres0.42% per 10K miNon-component advisories0.24% per 10K miRegistration Plates and VIN0.24% per 10K miEmissions & Exhaust0.18% per 10K miSteering0.18% per 10K miBody & Structure0.06% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Lamps & Electrical4.3810.2%73
Visibility2.586.0%43
Seat Belts0.661.5%11
Suspension0.541.3%9
Brakes0.421.0%7
Tyres0.421.0%7
Non-component advisories0.240.6%4
Registration Plates and VIN0.240.6%4
Emissions & Exhaust0.180.4%3
Steering0.180.4%3
Body & Structure0.060.1%1

Mileage Statistics

23,355
Mean
14,495
Median
8,571
25th Percentile
32,525
75th Percentile
7.75% failures per 10K miles

Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.

About This Data

The 2012 Land Rover Defender 90 Xs has an MOT pass rate of 81.9% based on 714 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 23,355 miles on the odometer. With a 18.1% failure rate, the 2012 Defender 90 Xs is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.

If you own or are considering buying a 2012 Land Rover Defender 90 Xs, you can expect reliable MOT performance overall. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test. With relatively low average mileage of 23,355 miles, many of these vehicles are still in good mechanical condition.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 10.2% of failures

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 10.2% of MOT failures on 2012 Land Rover Defender 90 Xs models. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.

Driver's View of the Road — 6.0% of failures

Driver's View of the Road issues account for 6.0% of MOT failures on 2012 Land Rover Defender 90 Xs models. Driver's View of the Road issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.

Seat Belts and Supplementary Restraint Systems — 1.5% of failures

Seat Belts and Supplementary Restraint Systems issues account for 1.5% of MOT failures on 2012 Land Rover Defender 90 Xs models. Seat belt failures include frayed or cut webbing, faulty retractors, buckles that don't latch properly, and missing or damaged anchorages. All fitted seat belts must be functional. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per belt. Pre-MOT check: Pull each seat belt fully out and check for fraying, cuts, or fading. Ensure each belt retracts smoothly and the buckle clicks securely. Check the pre-tensioner warning light on the dashboard.

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

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