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Land Rover Defender reliability by build year

Coverage 1998-present2 named generationslarge SUVSUVDIESEL / PETROL / HYBRID ELECTRIC / UNKNOWN
At a glance

Land Rover Defender built before 2000: about average at the MOT

Land Rover Defenders built before 2000 fail their MOT about as often as similar cars the same age. An independent inspection matters more than the wider numbers on cars this old.

Check a Land Rover Defender by number plate

Key figure

27% of MOT tests on Land Rover Defenders built before 2000 ended in a fail (retests included), against 27% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Land Rover Defenders built before 2000 involves fluid leaks.

Before you view it

What to check before viewing

The Land Rover Defender's most common MOT issues, turned into things to ask about or look for.

Brake pipes and hoses

High priority

Look under the car for corrosion or chafing on the rigid brake pipes near the rear axle.

Leaks

Worth checking

Inspect the leaks carefully and ask the seller for repair history.

Axles & Wheels

Worth checking

Inspect the axles & wheels carefully and ask the seller for repair history.

Seats & Seatbelts

Worth checking

Inspect the seats & seatbelts carefully and ask the seller for repair history.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

By build year

How build years differ

Fail rates have been steady over the last three years. Use the build-year guide below to separate newer build years from older ones.

Find your Defender's generation

Each card below is a different generation. Select your year and we'll highlight the match.

Defender L663

L663 (2020-present)

Too close to call between ratings
DIESELPETROLHYBRID ELECTRIC

10.8% fail rate, built around 2020 (5 years old)

Fails less often than the average car this age (about 1 in 8 MOTs, 12.8%)

From 2,455 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Defender Classic (Td5/Puma)

Classic (Td5/Puma) (1998-2016)

Excellent
DIESELPETROLUNKNOWN

16.0% fail rate, built around 2016 (9 years old)

Fails less often than the average car this age (about 1 in 5 MOTs, 20.8%)

From 4,584 MOT tests at this ageView details →

Not sure which one you're looking at?

Match your build year to its generation, then see the fail rates for those build years of the Land Rover Defender.

See every build year for the Land Rover Defender

Side-by-side

Land Rover Defender generations compared

Each generation is shown at 7 years old if it has at least 100 MOT tests at that age. If not, or if its cars are too new to be 7, it's shown at another age. We try ages close to 7 first. Newer generations have fewer years of data.

GenerationRatingFail rate
L663 (2020-present)
No ratingToo close to call between ratings
No ratingToo close to call between ratings10.8%built around 2020 (5 years old)from 2,455 MOT tests at this age
Classic (Td5/Puma) (1998-2016)
Excellent
Excellent16.0%built around 2016 (9 years old)from 4,584 MOT tests at this age

Each row is one generation of the Defender, shown at the age printed under its fail rate. So rows can be different ages. Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail, retests included. A rating is given only when there are enough tests to place the fail rate in one rating band with 95% confidence.

By age

Land Rover Defender fail rate by age

This chart combines every Land Rover Defender ever sold. It's good for the big picture. For one generation, scroll up to the build-year cards.

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rate
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
10,8017.9%
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
8,7838.9%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
2,45510.8%
8 yearsbuilt around 2017
52614.4%
9 yearsbuilt around 2016
4,58416.0%
10 yearsbuilt around 2015
7,97518.2%
11 yearsbuilt around 2014
6,68521.0%
12 yearsbuilt around 2013
5,41122.3%
13 yearsbuilt around 2012
5,09322.9%
14 yearsbuilt around 2011
5,46024.7%
15 yearsbuilt around 2010
4,93225.0%
16 yearsbuilt around 2009
4,41324.5%
17 yearsbuilt around 2008
5,50525.4%
18 yearsbuilt around 2007
4,78425.8%
19 yearsbuilt around 2006
5,36926.0%
20 yearsbuilt around 2005
5,50426.4%
21 yearsbuilt around 2004
5,82327.2%
22 yearsbuilt around 2003
5,62026.0%
23 yearsbuilt around 2002
4,56427.8%
24 yearsbuilt around 2001
3,64727.0%
25+ yearsbuilt 2000 or earlier
44,76226.7%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 23 years old.

All generations of this model

What goes wrong most often on 25+ year old Land Rover Defenders

These issues come from 25+ year old Land Rover Defenders, every generation combined.

All generations of this modelPlenty of data

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Oil leak, but not excessive

    33.0%
    Advisory: 18,993Fail: 364 (2% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Wheel bearing has slight play

    13.0%
    Advisory: 7,150Fail: 908 (11% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed

    12.5%
    Advisory: 7,574Fail: 394 (5% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Brake pipe corroded or covered in grease

    11.7%
    Advisory: 7,714Fail: 732 (9% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Body structure corroded, but not seriously weakened

    9.3%
    Advisory: 4,573Fail: 1,424 (24% of the times it was found)

Based on 44,867 MOT tests on 25+ year old Land Rover Defenders, every generation combined.

All generations of this model

Issues that often appear together

The pairs seen most often when an MOT on 25+ year old Land Rover Defenders notes problems with more than one part of the car.

Issues that often appear together on this model

All generations of this modelPlenty of data
  1. Other + Suspension35%
  2. Fuel & oil + Other33%
  3. Fuel & oil + Suspension30%
  4. Brakes + Other29%

Both were noted at the same test. That doesn't mean one caused the other.

Across 25,633 MOT tests on Land Rover Defender cars built before 2000 (over 25 years old) where more than one part of the car was noted.

Still registered

How many are still registered, and recalls

How many of these are still registered in the UK, and what's been recalled across the model.

How many are still registered

Not enough registration data to show this for the Land Rover Defender.

The share still registered can reflect demand, the cost of repairs, exports, write-offs and how owners use the car. It isn't proof of how long the car lasts mechanically.

Recall context

33 recalls in all

30 of the 33 Land Rover Defender recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 6 Critical
  • 24 more

Top concerns

  • Driver’s airbag potential Non-Deployment
  • E-PACE F-PACE Defender discovery sport range Rover evoque and range Rover velar PHEV traction battery fire risk
  • Defender and discovery 2026 model year fuel tank wall thickness

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

Like-for-like

Other SUVs to compare

Other SUVs to compare

  1. 1

    Ford Capri

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    14.8%

    Lower fail rate: 14.8%, against 26.6% for the Land Rover Defender, both built before 2000.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    2,247 MOT tests on cars built before 2000

  2. 2

    Toyota Land Cruiser

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    23.7%

    Lower fail rate: 23.7%, against 26.6% for the Land Rover Defender, both built before 2000.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    2,723 MOT tests on cars built before 2000

  3. 3

    Toyota Land Cruiser

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    26.1%

    No clear edge over the Land Rover Defender on these figures.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    1,544 MOT tests on cars built before 2000

  4. 4

    Suzuki Vitara

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    32.7%
    Still registered at 10 years
    95.9%

    No clear edge over the Land Rover Defender on these figures.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    1,015 MOT tests on cars built before 2000

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Built before 2000 (over 25 years old), the Land Rover Defender across all generations combined fails MOTs at about the rate typical for this age. This is based on 44,867 25+ year old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

These figures come from DVSA's MOT records. Across every Land Rover Defender ever sold: 152,801 tests. The main figures are for cars built before 2000 (over 25 years old): 44,867 tests. They are a guide, not a guarantee. Always inspect the car or have a mechanic check it.