2020 Land Rover Defender Auto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 730 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Land Rover Defender Auto, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and other defects. Its pass rate of 93.3% was above the average for cars of a similar age (90.5%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.9% | 21 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 16 |
| 3 | Other defects | 1.0% | 7 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.8% | 6 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.7% | 5 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registration plates | 11 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 10 |
| 3 | Daytime running lamps | 5 |
| 4 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 4 |
| 5 | Washers | 4 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 3 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 13.3% | 97 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.5% | 55 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.7% | 34 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.7% | 27 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 5 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 5 |
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 | 297 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 381 | 7.3% |
| 60-90k | 46 | 6.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 242 | 7.0% |
| 2024 | 234 | 6.4% |
| 2025 | 247 | 6.9% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Defender Auto
Before buying a 2020 Land Rover Defender Auto, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 2.9% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (2.9% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (2.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Other defects (1.0% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
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 2020 Land Rover Defender Autos pass their MOT?
93.3% of the 730 2020 Land Rover Defender Auto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Land Rover Defender Auto?
Tyres, recorded in 2.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.2%).
Does the 2020 Defender Auto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 0-30k band to 6.5% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 730 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.