1997 · 27 years old at test · Diesel mostly

1997 Land Rover Discovery MOT pass rate and common faults

1,000 MOT tests in 2024. 69.4% passed first time, compared with 65.5% for all cars the same age.

106Above average
Passed first time69.4%
Failed or needed repairs30.6%
Typical mileage at test153,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,000 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Seat belts - prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced4.9%
  2. Chassis condition: or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting3.7%
  3. Service brake performance: efficiency below requirements2.7%
  4. Position lamp: not working2.7%
  5. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength2.4%
  6. Rear fog lamp: not working2.3%
  7. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2.1%
  8. Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.0%
  9. Integral vehicle structure condition: corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced2.0%
  10. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.9%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics29.0%
  2. Body & chassis15.9%
  3. Brakes15.5%
  4. Suspension14.5%
  5. Seat belts & airbags7.2%
  6. Steering7.1%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.3%
  8. Emissions & leaks3.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine30.6%
  2. Wheel bearings: has excessive play15.1%
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded10.2%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure8.6%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened7.9%

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: seat belts - prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced. 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 1997 Land Rover Discovery?

In 2024, 69.4% of 1997 Land Rover Discovery cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,000 tests. The average for all 27-year-old cars was 65.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 1997 Land Rover Discovery?

The most common failure reasons were seat belts - prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced; chassis condition: or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting; service brake performance: efficiency below requirements. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 1997 Land Rover Discovery reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 106, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).