1989 Land Rover Defender — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1989 perform at MOT as they age

37 years

Current Age

64.0%

Latest Pass Rate

35,536

Total Tests (All Years)

139,920 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 1989 Land Rover Defender as it ages.

20 yrs49.2%

→ ↑1.6%

21 yrs50.8%

→ ↓1.4%

22 yrs49.4%

→ ↑1.7%

23 yrs51.1%

→ ↓0.8%

24 yrs50.3%

→ ↑2.2%

25 yrs52.5%

→ ↑2.1%

26 yrs54.6%

→ ↑1.4%

27 yrs56.0%

→ ↑2.2%

28 yrs58.2%

→ ↑0.4%

29 yrs58.6%

→ ↑1.3%

30 yrs59.9%

→ ↑0.4%

31 yrs60.3%

→ ↑2.4%

32 yrs62.7%

→ ↑1.1%

33 yrs63.8%

→ ↑0.8%

34 yrs64.6%

→ ↓0.6%

35 yrs64.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
20 yrs	49.2%	2,561
21 yrs	50.8%	2,533
22 yrs	49.4%	2,413
23 yrs	51.1%	2,366
24 yrs	50.3%	2,282
25 yrs	52.5%	2,086
26 yrs	54.6%	2,022
27 yrs	56.0%	1,908
28 yrs	58.2%	2,610
29 yrs	58.6%	1,651
30 yrs	59.9%	1,734
31 yrs	60.3%	1,689
32 yrs	62.7%	2,045
33 yrs	63.8%	1,704
34 yrs	64.6%	1,965
35 yrs	64.0%	3,967

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1989 Land Rover Defender pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (35 yrs)	64%	3,967
2023 (34 yrs)	64.6%	1,965
2022 (33 yrs)	63.8%	1,704
2021 (32 yrs)	62.7%	2,045
2020 (31 yrs)	60.3%	1,689
2019 (30 yrs)	59.9%	1,734
2018 (29 yrs)	58.6%	1,651
2017 (28 yrs)	58.2%	2,610
2016 (27 yrs)	56%	1,908
2015 (26 yrs)	54.6%	2,022
2014 (25 yrs)	52.5%	2,086
2013 (24 yrs)	50.3%	2,282
2012 (23 yrs)	51.1%	2,366
2011 (22 yrs)	49.4%	2,413
2010 (21 yrs)	50.8%	2,533
2009 (20 yrs)	49.2%	2,561

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

49.2%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 2,561Avg Mileage 121,157Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.7%

2010High Fail Rate

50.8%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 2,533Avg Mileage 123,046Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.1%

2011High Fail Rate

49.4%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 2,413Avg Mileage 125,509Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.8%

2012High Fail Rate

51.1%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 2,366Avg Mileage 126,292Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.2%

2013High Fail Rate

50.3%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 2,282Avg Mileage 127,358Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 80.5%

2014High Fail Rate

52.5%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 2,086Avg Mileage 130,355Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 78.6%

2015High Fail Rate

54.6%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 2,022Avg Mileage 130,891Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 73.6%

2016High Fail Rate

56.0%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 1,908Avg Mileage 132,416Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 73.1%

2017High Fail Rate

58.2%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 2,610Avg Mileage 136,931Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 66.6%

2018High Fail Rate

58.6%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 1,651Avg Mileage 135,760Top Failure Suspension — 50.3%

2019High Fail Rate

59.9%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 1,734Avg Mileage 136,928Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 61.0%

2020High Fail Rate

60.3%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 1,689Avg Mileage 139,145Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 60.0%

2021High Fail Rate

62.7%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 2,045Avg Mileage 139,891Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 60.9%

2022High Fail Rate

63.8%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 1,704Avg Mileage 137,842Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 65.2%

2023High Fail Rate

64.6%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 1,965Avg Mileage 138,264Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 55.7%

2024High Fail Rate

64.0%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 3,967Avg Mileage 139,920Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 45.3%

MOT results for 1989 Land Rover Defender by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	20	49.2%	2,561	121,157	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.7%
2010	21	50.8%	2,533	123,046	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.1%
2011	22	49.4%	2,413	125,509	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.8%
2012	23	51.1%	2,366	126,292	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.2%
2013	24	50.3%	2,282	127,358	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 80.5%
2014	25	52.5%	2,086	130,355	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 78.6%
2015	26	54.6%	2,022	130,891	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 73.6%
2016	27	56.0%	1,908	132,416	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 73.1%
2017	28	58.2%	2,610	136,931	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 66.6%
2018	29	58.6%	1,651	135,760	Suspension — 50.3%
2019	30	59.9%	1,734	136,928	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 61.0%
2020	31	60.3%	1,689	139,145	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 60.0%
2021	32	62.7%	2,045	139,891	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 60.9%
2022	33	63.8%	1,704	137,842	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 65.2%
2023	34	64.6%	1,965	138,264	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 55.7%
2024	35	64.0%	3,967	139,920	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 45.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1989 Land Rover Defender, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

56.2%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

56.2%

— Consistent

Suspension

43.9%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

37.9%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

35.0%

↓ 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	24.9% (20 yrs)	35.3% (35 yrs)	+10.4%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	24.6% (20 yrs)	28.9% (35 yrs)	+4.3%	🔴 ↑
Steering	21.6% (20 yrs)	20.1% (35 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 1989 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 35,536 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.