1986 Land-Rover 90 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1986 Land-Rover 90 passed 75.5% of its 408 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.2 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.6% of all tests — 9.8 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and rear fog lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 24 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 21.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.5% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 33.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 36.7% in 2021 to 18.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.6% | 80 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.8% | 40 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 36 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.6% | 35 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.4% | 26 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.4% | 26 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 24 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 21 |
| 4 | Chassis condition | 21 |
| 5 | Wipers | 20 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 20 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 33.6% | 137 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 26.2% | 107 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.3% | 95 |
| 4 | Steering | 19.6% | 80 |
| 5 | Brakes | 16.7% | 68 |
| 6 | Tyres | 10.3% | 42 |
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 | 41 | 21.9% |
| 60-90k | 68 | 26.5% |
| 90-120k | 76 | 23.7% |
| 120-150k | 77 | 19.5% |
| 150k+ | 131 | 30.5% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 328 | 24.7% |
| Petrol | 80 | 23.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 49 | 36.7% |
| 2022 | 91 | 24.2% |
| 2023 | 92 | 28.3% |
| 2024 | 90 | 20.0% |
| 2025 | 86 | 18.6% |
What to check before buying a 1986 90
On a 1986 90, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.8% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1986 Land-Rover 90s pass their MOT?
75.5% of the 408 1986 Land-Rover 90 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1986 Land-Rover 90?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.6% of tests, followed by suspension (9.8%).
Does the 1986 90 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.9% in the 0-30k band to 30.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 408 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.