2012 · 12 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2012 Land Rover Defender MOT pass rate and common faults

3,702 MOT tests in 2024. 70.6% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

110Well above average
Passed first time70.6%
Failed or needed repairs29.4%
Typical mileage at test67,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 3,702 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working5.4%
  2. Stop lamp: not working3.9%
  3. Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush3.7%
  4. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2.8%
  5. Reversing lamps: inoperative2.4%
  6. Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.9%
  7. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.6%
  8. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps1.5%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics29.1%
  2. Brakes10.1%
  3. Suspension9.3%
  4. Steering8.3%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.2%
  6. Body & chassis2.1%
  7. Tyres1.6%
  8. Emissions & leaks1.5%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded15.7%
  2. Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush8.1%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened6.8%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick5.3%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure4.9%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: position lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2012 Land Rover Defender?

In 2024, 70.6% of 2012 Land Rover Defender cars passed their MOT first time, across 3,702 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Land Rover Defender?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; stop lamp: not working; shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2012 Land Rover Defender reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 110, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).