2013 · 11 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2013 Land Rover Defender MOT pass rate and common faults

4,235 MOT tests in 2024. 72.4% passed first time, compared with 66.8% for all cars the same age.

108Well above average
Passed first time72.4%
Failed or needed repairs27.6%
Typical mileage at test61,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 4,235 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working5.3%
  2. Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush3.8%
  3. Stop lamp: not working3.4%
  4. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2.5%
  5. Reversing lamps: inoperative2.2%
  6. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.7%
    94 marked dangerous
  7. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.6%
  8. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps1.4%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics26.2%
  2. Brakes9.9%
  3. Suspension7.6%
  4. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.1%
  5. Steering5.8%
  6. Tyres2.1%
  7. Body & chassis2.0%
  8. Emissions & leaks1.4%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded12.6%
  2. Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush8.7%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened6.5%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick5.1%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm4.8%

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 2013 Land Rover Defender?

In 2024, 72.4% of 2013 Land Rover Defender cars passed their MOT first time, across 4,235 tests. The average for all 11-year-old cars was 66.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2013 Land Rover Defender?

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

Is the 2013 Land Rover Defender reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 108, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).