1983 Land-Rover 109 — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 262 MOT tests analysed for the 1983 Land-Rover 109, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes. Its pass rate of 78.2% was below the average for cars of a similar age (81.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 27.6% in the 60-90k group versus 18.4% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

262

MOT tests analysed

21.8%

Fail rate

worse than

vs cars of similar age

39.5

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 1983 Land-Rover 109
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Lighting & signalling	15.7%	41
2	Visibility	9.2%	24
3	Brakes	9.2%	24
4	Suspension	7.2%	19
5	Emissions & environmental	6.9%	18
6	Body, structure & corrosion	6.5%	17

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 1983 Land-Rover 109
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Position lamp	22
2	Washers	20
3	Non catalyst emissions	18
4	Stop lamp	16
5	Chassis condition	14
6	Headlamp aim	13

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 1983 Land-Rover 109
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Emissions & environmental	22.9%	60
2	Suspension	16.8%	44
3	Tyres	15.3%	40
4	Steering	12.2%	32
5	Body, structure & corrosion	12.2%	32
6	Brakes	10.3%	27

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 1983 109
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	76	18.4%
30-60k	56	19.6%
60-90k	87	27.6%

By fuel type

Fail rate by fuel type — 1983 109
Fuel	Tests	Fail rate
Petrol	186	24.2%
Diesel	76	15.8%

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 1983 109
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2021	62	25.8%
2022	81	21.0%
2023	68	25.0%
2024	31	16.1%

What to check before buying a 1983 109

Before buying a 1983 Land-Rover 109, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 15.7% of tests for this year.

Lighting & signalling (15.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Visibility (9.2% 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.
Brakes (9.2% 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.

Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.

Frequently asked questions

How many 1983 Land-Rover 109s pass their MOT?

78.2% of the 262 1983 Land-Rover 109 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.8% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 1983 Land-Rover 109?

Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.7% of tests, followed by visibility (9.2%).

Does the 1983 109 get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.4% in the 0-30k band to 27.6% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 262 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.