Land Rover 109 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Land Rover 109 appears in 1,275 MOT tests spanning model years 1980–2021, and 77.2% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (19.6% fail rate), the 109 comes out 3.3pp worse. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.0% of tests against 9.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, washers and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 85 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 109 fails 20.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 21.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.9 points.
Emissions & environmental is the most common advisory, noted on 26.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.7% in 2021 to 21.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every 109 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 115 | 75.6% | 24.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1981 | 135 | 83.7% | 16.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1982 | 344 | 75.9% | 24.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1983 | 262 | 78.2% | 21.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1984 | 105 | 75.2% | 24.8% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 191 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.3% | 119 |
| 3 | Visibility | 7.8% | 100 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.0% | 89 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.4% | 82 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 73 |
| 7 | Steering | 3.8% | 48 |
| 8 | Tyres | 1.2% | 15 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 85 |
| 2 | Washers | 79 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 66 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 62 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 61 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 57 |
| 7 | Non catalyst emissions | 56 |
| 8 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 51 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 26.2% | 334 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.6% | 237 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.4% | 171 |
| 4 | Brakes | 12.2% | 155 |
| 5 | Tyres | 11.6% | 148 |
| 6 | Steering | 10.7% | 136 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 380 | 20.0% |
| 30-60k | 360 | 24.4% |
| 60-90k | 393 | 24.7% |
| 90-120k | 86 | 22.1% |
| 150k+ | 41 | 21.9% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 854 | 23.4% |
| Diesel | 419 | 21.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 431 | 23.7% |
| 2022 | 342 | 22.5% |
| 2023 | 233 | 23.2% |
| 2024 | 154 | 21.4% |
| 2025 | 115 | 21.7% |
What to check before buying a Land Rover 109
- Lighting & signalling (15.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Visibility (7.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Land Rover 109?
77.2% of the 1,275 Land Rover 109 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 22.8% fail rate, across model years 1980–2021.
What does the Land Rover 109 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.0% of tests, then brakes (9.3%).
How much does mileage affect 109 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 20.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 21.9% for 150k+, a 1.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,275 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.