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Land Rover Defender L663 (2020-present) reliability

At a glance

Land Rover Defender L663 built around 2020: more fails still not passed 3 days later

Land Rover Defender L663 models built around 2020 fail an MOT and still haven’t passed 3 days later more often than similar cars the same age. Look closely at the tyres on any car you view.

Looking at a Land Rover Defender L663?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Key figure

3.2% of MOT tests on Land Rover Defender L663 models built around 2020 failed and still hadn’t passed 3 days later. For similar cars the same age, it was 1.9%.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Land Rover Defender L663 models built around 2020 involves the tyres.

Land Rover Defender L663
No reliability rating: too close to call between ratings2020-presentSUVDIESEL / PETROL / HYBRID ELECTRIC

Based on 22,008 tests of Defender models registered 2020+.

About 1 in 12 diesel Defender cars registered in 2022 (7.8%) failed their first MOT.

Based on 6,895 first MOTs (DVSA MOT results, 2025).

About 1 in 30 Defender L663 MOTs (3.2%) failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. That's for cars built around 2020 (5 years old), all fuels combined.

Based on 2,424 tests (DVSA MOT results, 2025). A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted. Nor is a fail with no later MOT on record.

About 1 in 40 Defender L663 MOTs (2.6%) found at least one dangerous defect. These are cars built around 2020 (5 years old).

Based on 2,424 tests (DVSA MOT results, 2025). Dangerous is the most serious grade an MOT gives: a direct risk to road safety.

L663 fail rate by age

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for cars this age
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
10,8017.9%
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
8,7838.9%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
2,42410.7%

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 5 years old.

How the Defender L663 compares

At each age below, see how the Defender L663 holds up against other cars the same age. The averages combine all fuel types.

Based on 63,263 tests across 7 Land Rover models, built around 2020 (5 years old).

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateLand Rover average
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
10,8017.9%
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
8,7838.9%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
2,42410.7%

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.

What to check before viewing

The model's most common MOT issues, turned into things you can ask about or look for.

Brake pads

High priority

Ask when the pads were last replaced and check the warning-light history.

Brake discs

High priority

Ask for the date and mileage of the last disc replacement; visually check for a deep wear lip and rust pitting on each disc.

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.

Other SUVs to compare

Other SUVs, with each one's figures taken at the same age as the Defender L663.

  1. 1

    Lexus RX

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    4.9%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    0.8%
    Dangerous
    1.5%
    Still registered at 10 years
    90.4%

    Lower fail rate: 4.9%, against 10.7% for the Land Rover Defender L663, both built around 2020.

    1,790 MOT tests on cars built around 2020

  2. 2

    Lexus UX

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    7.1%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    0.6%
    Dangerous
    2.3%

    Lower fail rate: 7.1%, against 10.7% for the Land Rover Defender L663, both built around 2020.

    4,133 MOT tests on cars built around 2020

  3. 3

    Porsche Macan

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    6.5%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1.3%
    Dangerous
    2.1%
    Still registered at 10 years
    91.6%

    Lower fail rate: 6.5%, against 10.7% for the Land Rover Defender L663, both built around 2020.

    4,146 MOT tests on cars built around 2020

  4. 4

    Honda HR-V

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    8%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    0.6%
    Dangerous
    2.8%
    Still registered at 10 years
    97%

    Lower fail rate: 8.0%, against 10.7% for the Land Rover Defender L663, both built around 2020.

    4,166 MOT tests on cars built around 2020

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Recall context

32 recalls in all

17 of the 32 Defender L663 recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 6 Critical
  • 11 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.

How Defender L663 cars have aged

How Defender L663 cars have aged

How fail rates have changed as these cars got older. Each line follows cars first registered in about the same year across several years of MOT data. Not a prediction for any one car.

Some lines cover only a year or two, so read this as a rough guide.

0%10%345Age at MOTBuilt around 2021, 3 years old at the time of MOT: 7.6% (7,132 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2021, 4 years old at the time of MOT: 8.4% (6,566 tests, 2025 data)2021Built around 2020, 3 years old at the time of MOT: 8.9% (3,043 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2020, 4 years old at the time of MOT: 9.3% (2,663 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2020, 5 years old at the time of MOT: 10.7% (2,424 tests, 2025 data)2020
First registered around 2021First registered around 2020
L663 variants compared

Defender L663 variants built around 2020

The fail rate for each Defender L663 variant, grouped by fuel. Each row counts fails per MOT test, the same way as the main fail rate chart.

Diesel

  • DEFENDER FIRST EDITION D AUTO13.0%577 tests
  • DEFENDER SE D AUTO9.8%531 tests
  • DEFENDER S D AUTO8.5%424 tests
  • DEFENDER HSE D AUTO12.8%351 tests
All generations of this modelEnough data

Most common issues on Land Rover Defenders of this age

This list covers every Land Rover Defender built around 2020, whichever generation it is. We don't have a defect list for the L663 on its own.

Most common advisories and fails

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

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    12.9%
    Advisory: 438Fail: 14 (3% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Brake pads wearing thin

    11.5%
    Advisory: 322Fail: 39 (11% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

    7.4%
    Advisory: 275Fail: 3 (1% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    4.9%
    Advisory: 168Fail: 32 (16% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Tyre has a cut that does not reach the ply or cords

    3.9%
    Advisory: 88Fail: 51 (37% of the times it was found)

Based on 2,455 tests

Looking at a Land Rover Defender L663?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2020 (5 years old), the Land Rover Defender L663 (2020-present) fails MOTs slightly less often than typical for this age. This is based on 2,424 5-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

*The build year is worked out from the date a car was first used on UK roads. For most cars this matches when it was registered, but imports may differ by a few months.

Data sourced from DVSA MOT History API. From 22,008 MOT tests on Land Rover Defenders first registered from 2020. These figures are a guide, not a guarantee.