Land Rover Defender Se D Auto MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 3,486 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 6.5%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Land Rover Defender Se D Auto MOT Reliability Overview
The Land Rover Defender Se D Auto is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 3,486 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 93.5% and a failure rate of 6.5%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Land Rover Defender Se D Auto earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Land Rover Defender Se D Auto presents for MOT with approximately 34,039 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2021 models achieve the highest pass rate at 95.5%, while 2020 models have the lowest at 93.2%. This 2.3 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Land Rover Defender Se D Auto is Tyres, affecting 4.9% of all tests. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. The second most common issue is Brakes at 3.8%. Identification of the vehicle rounds out the top three at 2.0%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
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| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.9% | 172 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.8% | 132 |
| 3 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 2.0% | 68 |
| 4 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 1.4% | 48 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.1% | 39 |
| 6 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 0.6% | 20 |
| 7 | Non-component Advisories | 0.5% | 19 |
| 8 | Road Wheels | 0.2% | 8 |
| 9 | Suspension | 0.2% | 8 |
| 10 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 0.2% | 8 |
| 11 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 0.2% | 6 |
| 12 | Steering | 0.1% | 5 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 34,039 miFor 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.
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| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 1.45 | 4.9% | 172 |
| Brakes | 1.11 | 3.8% | 132 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.57 | 2.0% | 68 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 0.40 | 1.4% | 48 |
| Visibility | 0.33 | 1.1% | 39 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.17 | 0.6% | 20 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.16 | 0.5% | 19 |
| Wheels | 0.07 | 0.2% | 8 |
| Suspension | 0.07 | 0.2% | 8 |
| Body & Structure | 0.07 | 0.2% | 8 |
| Seat Belts | 0.05 | 0.2% | 6 |
| Steering | 0.04 | 0.1% | 5 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Land Rover Defender Se D Auto has 34,039 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Land Rover Defender Se D Auto has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 1.91% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Land Rover Defender Se D Auto MOT Data
The Land Rover Defender Se D Auto is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 3,486 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 93.5% and a failure rate of 6.5%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Land Rover Defender Se D Auto owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on tyres and brakes for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Defender Se D Auto is likely to perform.
Tyres — 4.9% of failures
Tyres issues account for 4.9% of MOT failures on the Land Rover Defender Se D Auto. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Brakes — 3.8% of failures
Brakes issues account for 3.8% of MOT failures on the Land Rover Defender Se D Auto. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Identification of the vehicle — 2.0% of failures
Identification of the vehicle issues account for 2.0% of MOT failures on the Land Rover Defender Se D Auto. Identification failures relate to the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and registration plate. The VIN must be permanently displayed and legible, and the registration plate must meet British Standard formatting. Typical repair costs: £10–50. Pre-MOT check: Ensure the VIN plate is visible and legible (usually in the windscreen or under the bonnet). Check that number plates are clean, undamaged, and use the correct font and spacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Land Rover Defender Se D Auto?
Based on 3,486 MOT tests in our database, the Land Rover Defender Se D Auto has an overall pass rate of 93.5% (6.5% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Land Rover Defender Se D Auto?
The top 3 reasons a Land Rover Defender Se D Auto fails its MOT are: 1. Tyres (4.9%), 2. Brakes (3.8%), 3. Identification of the vehicle (2.0%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Land Rover Defender Se D Auto reliable?
With a 6.5% MOT failure rate, the Defender Se D Auto is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Land Rover Defender Se D Auto?
Based on failure data, focus on: Tyres (4.9%); Brakes (3.8%); Identification of the vehicle (2.0%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.