1985 Land Rover Defender — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1985 perform at MOT as they age

41 years

Current Age

71.4%

Latest Pass Rate

21,062

Total Tests (All Years)

130,394 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 1985 Land Rover Defender as it ages.

24 yrs51.2%

→ ↑2.0%

25 yrs53.2%

→ ↑1.3%

26 yrs54.5%

→ ↓1.9%

27 yrs52.6%

→ ↑2.2%

28 yrs54.8%

→ ↑0.8%

29 yrs55.6%

→ ↑2.4%

30 yrs58.0%

→ ↑2.3%

31 yrs60.3%

→ ↑1.6%

32 yrs61.9%

→ ↑0.3%

33 yrs62.2%

→ ↑0.3%

34 yrs62.5%

→ ↑0.8%

35 yrs63.3%

→ ↑1.5%

36 yrs64.8%

→ ↑0.3%

37 yrs65.1%

→ ↑3.1%

38 yrs68.2%

→ ↑3.2%

39 yrs71.4%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
24 yrs	51.2%	1,362
25 yrs	53.2%	1,299
26 yrs	54.5%	1,246
27 yrs	52.6%	1,152
28 yrs	54.8%	1,165
29 yrs	55.6%	1,107
30 yrs	58.0%	1,087
31 yrs	60.3%	1,028
32 yrs	61.9%	1,710
33 yrs	62.2%	1,163
34 yrs	62.5%	1,170
35 yrs	63.3%	1,122
36 yrs	64.8%	1,300
37 yrs	65.1%	1,144
38 yrs	68.2%	1,348
39 yrs	71.4%	2,659

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1985 Land Rover Defender pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (39 yrs)	71.4%	2,659
2023 (38 yrs)	68.2%	1,348
2022 (37 yrs)	65.1%	1,144
2021 (36 yrs)	64.8%	1,300
2020 (35 yrs)	63.3%	1,122
2019 (34 yrs)	62.5%	1,170
2018 (33 yrs)	62.2%	1,163
2017 (32 yrs)	61.9%	1,710
2016 (31 yrs)	60.3%	1,028
2015 (30 yrs)	58%	1,087
2014 (29 yrs)	55.6%	1,107
2013 (28 yrs)	54.8%	1,165
2012 (27 yrs)	52.6%	1,152
2011 (26 yrs)	54.5%	1,246
2010 (25 yrs)	53.2%	1,299
2009 (24 yrs)	51.2%	1,362

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

51.2%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 1,362Avg Mileage 119,874Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.4%

2010High Fail Rate

53.2%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 1,299Avg Mileage 118,630Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.6%

2011High Fail Rate

54.5%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 1,246Avg Mileage 121,018Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.0%

2012High Fail Rate

52.6%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 1,152Avg Mileage 120,930Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.6%

2013High Fail Rate

54.8%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 1,165Avg Mileage 124,267Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 73.6%

2014High Fail Rate

55.6%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 1,107Avg Mileage 124,612Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 75.0%

2015High Fail Rate

58.0%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 1,087Avg Mileage 125,988Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 68.4%

2016High Fail Rate

60.3%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 1,028Avg Mileage 128,524Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 73.3%

2017High Fail Rate

61.9%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 1,710Avg Mileage 130,466Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 61.9%

2018High Fail Rate

62.2%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 1,163Avg Mileage 130,615Top Failure Suspension — 45.2%

2019High Fail Rate

62.5%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 1,170Avg Mileage 132,022Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 59.8%

2020High Fail Rate

63.3%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 1,122Avg Mileage 130,752Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 53.5%

2021High Fail Rate

64.8%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 1,300Avg Mileage 131,984Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 53.1%

2022

65.1%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 1,144Avg Mileage 131,721Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 50.7%

2023

68.2%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 1,348Avg Mileage 130,560Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 43.2%

2024

71.4%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 2,659Avg Mileage 130,394Top Failure Suspension — 30.3%

MOT results for 1985 Land Rover Defender by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	24	51.2%	1,362	119,874	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.4%
2010	25	53.2%	1,299	118,630	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.6%
2011	26	54.5%	1,246	121,018	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.0%
2012	27	52.6%	1,152	120,930	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.6%
2013	28	54.8%	1,165	124,267	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 73.6%
2014	29	55.6%	1,107	124,612	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 75.0%
2015	30	58.0%	1,087	125,988	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 68.4%
2016	31	60.3%	1,028	128,524	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 73.3%
2017	32	61.9%	1,710	130,466	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 61.9%
2018	33	62.2%	1,163	130,615	Suspension — 45.2%
2019	34	62.5%	1,170	132,022	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 59.8%
2020	35	63.3%	1,122	130,752	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 53.5%
2021	36	64.8%	1,300	131,984	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 53.1%
2022	37	65.1%	1,144	131,721	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 50.7%
2023	38	68.2%	1,348	130,560	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 43.2%
2024	39	71.4%	2,659	130,394	Suspension — 30.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1985 Land Rover Defender, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

50.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

46.3%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

39.5%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

35.1%

— Consistent

Body, chassis, structure

32.0%

↓ Decreases 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	24.0% (24 yrs)	30.3% (39 yrs)	+6.3%	🔴 ↑
Steering	21.0% (24 yrs)	15.6% (39 yrs)	-5.4%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	24.3% (24 yrs)	22.8% (39 yrs)	-1.5%	⚪ —

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 1985 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 21,062 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.