2020 Land Rover Defender D Auto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,411 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Land Rover Defender D Auto, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental. Its pass rate of 92.6% was above the average for cars of a similar age (90.6%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.9% | 100 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 79 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 42 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.1% | 37 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.1% | 36 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.9% | 31 |
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 | 54 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 40 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 40 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 32 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 26 |
| 6 | Washers | 19 |
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 | 14.8% | 504 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.1% | 413 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.7% | 159 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 128 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.0% | 35 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 28 |
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 | 1,175 | 4.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,844 | 8.5% |
| 60-90k | 357 | 11.8% |
| 90-120k | 34 | 2.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 57 | 1.8% |
| 2023 | 1,083 | 6.7% |
| 2024 | 1,126 | 8.0% |
| 2025 | 1,145 | 7.8% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Defender D Auto
Before buying a 2020 Land Rover Defender D 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 (2.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (1.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 D Autos pass their MOT?
92.6% of the 3,411 2020 Land Rover Defender D Auto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Land Rover Defender D Auto?
Tyres, recorded in 2.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.3%).
Does the 2020 Defender D Auto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.6% in the 0-30k band to 2.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,411 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.