1970 Land Rover Defender — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1970 perform at MOT as they age

56 years

Current Age

76.0%

Latest Pass Rate

482

Total Tests (All Years)

65,115 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 1970 Land Rover Defender as it ages.

39 yrs56.6%

→ ↑7.7%

40 yrs64.3%

→ ↓6.6%

41 yrs57.7%

→ ↓1.9%

42 yrs55.8%

→ ↓1.8%

43 yrs54.0%

→ ↑11.5%

44 yrs65.5%

→ ↓0.8%

45 yrs64.7%

→ ↑1.3%

46 yrs66.0%

→ ↑10.0%

47 yrs76.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
39 yrs	56.6%	53
40 yrs	64.3%	56
41 yrs	57.7%	52
42 yrs	55.8%	52
43 yrs	54.0%	63
44 yrs	65.5%	55
45 yrs	64.7%	51
46 yrs	66.0%	50
47 yrs	76.0%	50

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1970 Land Rover Defender pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (47 yrs)	76%	50
2016 (46 yrs)	66%	50
2015 (45 yrs)	64.7%	51
2014 (44 yrs)	65.5%	55
2013 (43 yrs)	54%	63
2012 (42 yrs)	55.8%	52
2011 (41 yrs)	57.7%	52
2010 (40 yrs)	64.3%	56
2009 (39 yrs)	56.6%	53

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

56.6%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 53Avg Mileage 58,731Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.2%

2010High Fail Rate

64.3%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 56Avg Mileage 59,905Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.4%

2011High Fail Rate

57.7%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 52Avg Mileage 61,575Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.1%

2012High Fail Rate

55.8%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 52Avg Mileage 61,837Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.8%

2013High Fail Rate

54.0%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 63Avg Mileage 64,638Top Failure Suspension — 55.6%

2014

65.5%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 55Avg Mileage 66,533Top Failure Suspension — 40.0%

2015High Fail Rate

64.7%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 51Avg Mileage 62,383Top Failure Brakes — 60.8%

2016

66.0%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 50Avg Mileage 69,186Top Failure Brakes — 52.0%

2017

76.0%

Age (yrs) 47Tests 50Avg Mileage 65,115Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.0%

MOT results for 1970 Land Rover Defender by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	39	56.6%	53	58,731	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.2%
2010	40	64.3%	56	59,905	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.4%
2011	41	57.7%	52	61,575	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.1%
2012	42	55.8%	52	61,837	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.8%
2013	43	54.0%	63	64,638	Suspension — 55.6%
2014	44	65.5%	55	66,533	Suspension — 40.0%
2015	45	64.7%	51	62,383	Brakes — 60.8%
2016	46	66.0%	50	69,186	Brakes — 52.0%
2017	47	76.0%	50	65,115	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1970 Land Rover Defender, with age trends.

Brakes

32.2%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

31.4%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

30.7%

— Consistent

Steering

18.4%

↑ Increases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

16.7%

↑ 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
Driver's View of the Road	17.0% (39 yrs)	8.0% (47 yrs)	-9.0%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	17.0% (39 yrs)	24.0% (47 yrs)	+7.0%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	22.6% (39 yrs)	18.0% (47 yrs)	-4.6%	🟢 ↓
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	30.2% (39 yrs)	32.0% (47 yrs)	+1.8%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

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

About This Data

This page shows how Land Rover Defender cars manufactured in 1970 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 482 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.