1971 Land Rover Defender MOT Pass Rate
Pass rate for Defender models manufactured in 1971, based on 1,730 real MOT test results.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
This page shows all Defender cars tested in 1971. Want to see how cars built in 1971 hold up over time?
View 1971 Land Rover Defender vintage page → (63.6% current pass rate)1971 Land Rover Defender MOT Analysis
The 1971 Land Rover Defender has an MOT pass rate of 59.6% based on 1,730 tests — slightly below the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 70,843 miles on the odometer. With a 40.4% failure rate, the 1971 Defender is rated as "Below Average" for MOT reliability.
The leading cause of MOT failure for the 1971 Land Rover Defender is Suspension, responsible for 0.3% of failures. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs range from £200–500. Tyres is the second most common issue at 0.1%. Noise, emissions and leaks follows at 0.1%.
Top failures specific to 1971 models only. The overall Defender page may show different rankings.
What Fails Most
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 0.3% | 6 |
| 2 | Tyres | 0.1% | 1 |
| 3 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 0.1% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 70,843 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.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 0.05 | 0.3% | 6 |
| Tyres | 0.01 | 0.1% | 1 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.01 | 0.1% | 1 |
Mileage Statistics
Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.
About This Data
The 1971 Land Rover Defender has an MOT pass rate of 59.6% based on 1,730 tests — slightly below the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 70,843 miles on the odometer. With a 40.4% failure rate, the 1971 Defender is rated as "Below Average" for MOT reliability.
If you own or are considering buying a 1971 Land Rover Defender, budget for potential repairs before each MOT. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to suspension: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks. At 70,843 average miles, these vehicles are in the mid-range where component wear starts to become a factor.
Suspension — 0.3% of failures
Suspension issues account for 0.3% of MOT failures on 1971 Land Rover Defender models. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Tyres — 0.1% of failures
Tyres issues account for 0.1% of MOT failures on 1971 Land Rover Defender models. 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.
Noise, emissions and leaks — 0.1% of failures
Noise, emissions and leaks issues account for 0.1% of MOT failures on 1971 Land Rover Defender models. Emissions failures occur when exhaust gases exceed legal limits for carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), or particulate matter (diesel). Common causes include faulty oxygen sensors, clogged catalytic converters, or DPF issues on diesel vehicles. Typical repair costs: £100–1,000+. Pre-MOT check: If the engine management light is on, get it diagnosed before the MOT. For diesel cars, ensure the DPF has completed a regeneration cycle. Regular servicing and using premium fuel before the test can help.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.