1998 Land Rover Defender — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

65.0%

Latest Pass Rate

62,217

Total Tests (All Years)

135,848 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 1998 Land Rover Defender as it ages.

11 yrs57.8%

→ ↓0.4%

12 yrs57.4%

→ ↓2.8%

13 yrs54.6%

→ ↓2.1%

14 yrs52.5%

→ ↑0.4%

15 yrs52.9%

→ ↑1.8%

16 yrs54.7%

→ ↑1.9%

17 yrs56.6%

→ ↑0.2%

18 yrs56.8%

→ ↑0.8%

19 yrs57.6%

→ ↓0.6%

20 yrs57.0%

→ ↑1.9%

21 yrs58.9%

→ ↑1.9%

22 yrs60.8%

→ ↓0.3%

23 yrs60.5%

→ ↑2.0%

24 yrs62.5%

→ ↑2.8%

25 yrs65.3%

→ ↓0.3%

26 yrs65.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	57.8%	4,299
12 yrs	57.4%	4,158
13 yrs	54.6%	4,192
14 yrs	52.5%	4,096
15 yrs	52.9%	4,005
16 yrs	54.7%	3,925
17 yrs	56.6%	3,855
18 yrs	56.8%	3,866
19 yrs	57.6%	4,048
20 yrs	57.0%	2,764
21 yrs	58.9%	2,927
22 yrs	60.8%	2,972
23 yrs	60.5%	3,515
24 yrs	62.5%	3,082
25 yrs	65.3%	3,682
26 yrs	65.0%	6,831

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Land Rover Defender pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (26 yrs)	65%	6,831
2023 (25 yrs)	65.3%	3,682
2022 (24 yrs)	62.5%	3,082
2021 (23 yrs)	60.5%	3,515
2020 (22 yrs)	60.8%	2,972
2019 (21 yrs)	58.9%	2,927
2018 (20 yrs)	57%	2,764
2017 (19 yrs)	57.6%	4,048
2016 (18 yrs)	56.8%	3,866
2015 (17 yrs)	56.6%	3,855
2014 (16 yrs)	54.7%	3,925
2013 (15 yrs)	52.9%	4,005
2012 (14 yrs)	52.5%	4,096
2011 (13 yrs)	54.6%	4,192
2010 (12 yrs)	57.4%	4,158
2009 (11 yrs)	57.8%	4,299

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

57.8%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 4,299Avg Mileage 94,726Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.0%

2010High Fail Rate

57.4%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 4,158Avg Mileage 100,121Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.7%

2011High Fail Rate

54.6%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 4,192Avg Mileage 104,499Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.8%

2012High Fail Rate

52.5%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 4,096Avg Mileage 108,771Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.1%

2013High Fail Rate

52.9%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 4,005Avg Mileage 112,736Top Failure Suspension — 60.2%

2014High Fail Rate

54.7%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 3,925Avg Mileage 116,644Top Failure Suspension — 63.1%

2015High Fail Rate

56.6%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 3,855Avg Mileage 120,001Top Failure Suspension — 60.1%

2016High Fail Rate

56.8%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 3,866Avg Mileage 122,923Top Failure Suspension — 60.5%

2017High Fail Rate

57.6%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 4,048Avg Mileage 126,064Top Failure Suspension — 59.0%

2018High Fail Rate

57.0%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 2,764Avg Mileage 128,944Top Failure Suspension — 61.7%

2019High Fail Rate

58.9%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 2,927Avg Mileage 130,992Top Failure Suspension — 61.0%

2020High Fail Rate

60.8%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 2,972Avg Mileage 130,986Top Failure Suspension — 59.5%

2021High Fail Rate

60.5%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 3,515Avg Mileage 136,918Top Failure Suspension — 62.7%

2022High Fail Rate

62.5%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 3,082Avg Mileage 132,577Top Failure Suspension — 58.0%

2023

65.3%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 3,682Avg Mileage 131,988Top Failure Suspension — 53.6%

2024

65.0%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 6,831Avg Mileage 135,848Top Failure Suspension — 44.6%

MOT results for 1998 Land Rover Defender by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	57.8%	4,299	94,726	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.0%
2010	12	57.4%	4,158	100,121	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.7%
2011	13	54.6%	4,192	104,499	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.8%
2012	14	52.5%	4,096	108,771	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.1%
2013	15	52.9%	4,005	112,736	Suspension — 60.2%
2014	16	54.7%	3,925	116,644	Suspension — 63.1%
2015	17	56.6%	3,855	120,001	Suspension — 60.1%
2016	18	56.8%	3,866	122,923	Suspension — 60.5%
2017	19	57.6%	4,048	126,064	Suspension — 59.0%
2018	20	57.0%	2,764	128,944	Suspension — 61.7%
2019	21	58.9%	2,927	130,992	Suspension — 61.0%
2020	22	60.8%	2,972	130,986	Suspension — 59.5%
2021	23	60.5%	3,515	136,918	Suspension — 62.7%
2022	24	62.5%	3,082	132,577	Suspension — 58.0%
2023	25	65.3%	3,682	131,988	Suspension — 53.6%
2024	26	65.0%	6,831	135,848	Suspension — 44.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Land Rover Defender, with age trends.

Suspension

49.2%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

41.5%

— Consistent

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

40.6%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

36.1%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

31.6%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	18.9% (11 yrs)	44.6% (26 yrs)	+25.7%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	18.4% (11 yrs)	28.5% (26 yrs)	+10.1%	🔴 ↑

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 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 62,217 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.