EV ZoneLand Rover
Reliability
Are Land Rovers reliable? Common problems, MOT data, and full history checks for used Land Rover vehicles.
77.3% MOT pass rate based on 843,000 tests.
Common faults and reliability ranked across 9 Land Rover models.
Full vehicle history checks for £9.99 with no subscription.
Land Rover Vehicle Check
Check any Land Rover's full history
- ✓Outstanding finance check
- ✓Stolen marker check
- ✓Write-off and salvage history
- ✓Full MOT history and mileage
- ✓Safety recall check
- ✓Vehicle valuation
Are Land Rover cars reliable?
Land Rover vs other premium brands
Land Rover vehicles pass their MOT at 77.3%, five points above the national average of 72.4%. Among premium brands, Land Rover sits at the lower end of the pack, ahead of only Mercedes. Porsche leads at 87.5%, with BMW, Jaguar, and Audi clustered around 78-79%.
The Land Rover range spans everything from the ageing Freelander to the recently launched Range Rover Velar. Newer models perform notably better than older ones, and reliability varies more by model within the range than for most premium brands.
Reliability data shows part of the picture. A vehicle history check reveals the rest, including outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, and mileage discrepancies.
What is the Land Rover MOT pass rate by age?
Pass rate at each vehicle age, from 3 to 20 years old. National average shown for comparison.
Newer Land Rovers (3 to 5 years old) pass at 86 to 89%, in line with the national average for the same age range. Land Rover pulls ahead of the national curve through the middle years: at age 12, Land Rovers pass at 75% vs 66% nationally.
Land Rover pass rates stay above the national average at every age from 6 through 20. Even at 20 years old, Land Rovers pass at 63% vs 58% nationally - a stronger showing than the brand's off-road reputation might suggest.
What are the most common Land Rover faults?
Top 10 MOT failure categories for Land Rover, ranked by frequency. National percentage shown alongside.
Top 5 specific Land Rover failure reasons
These are the specific MOT examiner findings most frequently recorded on Land Rover vehicles, along with what they mean.
- Not working (6.12% of Land Rover failures)
A lamp, indicator, or electrical component that has completely stopped functioning. Usually a blown bulb or faulty sensor.
- Damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (4.58% of Land Rover failures)
Windscreen damage such as a chip or crack that has not yet spread into the driver's line of sight. Commonly caused by road debris.
- Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (4.12% of Land Rover failures)
The rubber boot protecting a suspension ball joint has cracked or split, letting dirt into the joint. Common on older cars.
- Less than 1.5 mm thick (3.27% of Land Rover failures)
A brake pad measured below the minimum safe thickness of 1.5mm. Immediate replacement required to maintain braking performance.
- Has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (3.22% of Land Rover failures)
A deep cut or gash in a tyre's sidewall or tread that exposes the internal structure. Usually means the tyre needs replacing immediately.
Land Rover's failure profile stands out for one thing: brake failures at 15.4% of failures vs 13.0% nationally. This reflects the sheer mass of the vehicles - a Range Rover weighs over 2,000kg and puts significantly more strain on braking components than a family hatchback. Suspension and lamps failures are broadly in line with the national average.
Which Land Rover models are most reliable?
Top 15 Land Rover models ranked by MOT test volume. Pass rate shown for each. Green bars beat the national average of 72.4%. Red bars sit below it.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Land Rover Range Rover Evoque | 115,849 | 80.2% | Tyres |
| Land Rover Discovery | 111,673 | 72.6% | Suspension |
| Land Rover Freelander | 99,022 | 65.0% | Suspension |
| Land Rover Range Rover Sport | 97,538 | 79.6% | Suspension |
| Land Rover Defender | 87,932 | 68.6% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Land Rover Discovery Sport | 80,380 | 80.6% | Tyres |
| Land Rover Range Rover | 70,899 | 78.3% | Suspension |
| Land Rover Range Rover Velar | 24,534 | 83.9% | Tyres |
| Land Rover Range Rover Evoque R-Dyn S D A | 5,477 | 85.4% | Tyres |
The Range Rover Velar (84%), Discovery Sport (81%), and Range Rover Evoque (80%) lead the range, all comfortably above the brand average. The Range Rover Sport (80%) and Range Rover (78%) also perform well. At the other end, the discontinued Freelander lags at 65% and the Defender at 69% - both older, harder-worked models that pull the range average down. The current Discovery sits at 73%.
How many miles do Land Rover vehicles typically cover?
Average recorded mileage at each MOT test, by vehicle age. National average shown for comparison.
Land Rover vehicles cover higher mileage than the national average at every age. At 3 years old they average 29,000 miles vs 28,000 nationally. By age 20 they average 142,000 miles vs 111,000 nationally - a 28% gap that reflects the working-vehicle and rural profile of many Land Rovers.
Our Premium Vehicle Reports compare the recorded mileage at every MOT test to flag discrepancies. A drop in recorded mileage between two tests is a strong signal that the odometer may have been tampered with.
Are there any Land Rover safety recalls?
Safety recalls are issued by Land Rover when a manufacturing defect could affect the safety of the vehicle. The DVSA records every UK recall and links it to affected vehicle identification numbers (VINs). Recalls are free for the owner to have fixed at a franchised dealer.
Recall lists change over time as new issues are identified and old ones are resolved. For that reason we do not maintain a static list here. When you check a Land Rover via Brumble, the report shows any outstanding manufacturer safety recalls that still need action on that specific vehicle.
How do you check a Land Rover's full history?
Before you buy any used Land Rover, a full history check protects you from problems that a physical inspection would miss. Here is what a Premium Vehicle Report from Brumble covers.
Has this Land Rover been written off?
An insurance write-off means the car has been declared uneconomical to repair after an accident, fire, or flood. The report shows the category (Cat A, B, N, or S), the date, and the cause. Cat A and B are permanently unroadworthy. Cat N and S can legally return to the road but often carry hidden damage and are worth significantly less.
Is there outstanding finance on this Land Rover?
If the previous owner has an active HP, PCP, or loan agreement secured against the car, the finance company legally owns it until the balance is paid off. Buying a car with outstanding finance means the finance company can repossess it, even after you have paid the seller in full. The report checks with Experian for any active finance agreements.
Has this Land Rover been reported stolen?
The Police National Computer records stolen vehicles. The report checks the PNC for any active stolen marker. Buying a stolen vehicle means the police can seize it and return it to the rightful owner, with no compensation.
Has the mileage been tampered with?
Every MOT test records the current mileage. The report shows the full mileage history from every recorded test and flags any drops or unusually flat periods. A drop between tests is a strong signal the odometer has been clocked. A car worth £15,000 with 60,000 miles on the clock might be worth £10,000 if the true mileage is 120,000.
Has this Land Rover been used as a taxi or private hire vehicle?
Ex-taxis and private hire vehicles have typically covered high mileage under harder use than a private car of the same age. Insurers may view them as higher risk, and resale value is significantly lower. The report checks whether the vehicle has ever been registered as a taxi or private hire vehicle.
What is this Land Rover worth?
The report includes current trade, retail, and private-sale valuations based on the vehicle's make, model, trim, mileage, and condition. Use it to check whether the asking price is fair before you negotiate.
Check any Land Rover's full history for £9.99. No subscription.
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What should you check before buying a used Land Rover?
Four practical steps before you hand over any money.
- 1
Check the MOT history
Every UK vehicle has a free MOT test history showing every pass, fail, advisory, and recorded mileage. Use the Brumble MOT checker to see what previous inspections found.
- 2
Check the vehicle's full history
A Premium Vehicle Report covers outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, mileage discrepancies, safety recalls, and valuation. £9.99, no subscription.
- 3
Compare insurance before you commit
Land Rover insurance groups vary widely by model and trim. Get a car insurance quote before you buy to avoid nasty surprises after the sale.
- 4
Check the tax status
Confirm the car is currently taxed, or you may not be able to drive it away. The Brumble tax checker shows current tax status and when tax is next due.
Land Rover Reliability FAQs
Source: Brumble analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2025 test year (published June 2026). Class 3 and 4 vehicles with 5,000+ tests per model. Published under Open Government Licence v3.0.