2021 Land Rover Defender D Mhev Auto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,024 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Land Rover Defender D Mhev Auto, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 93.5% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 11.1% in the 60-90k group versus 5.0% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.1% | 62 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 41 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.2% | 24 |
| 4 | Other defects | 0.7% | 15 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.7% | 15 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 8 |
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 | 31 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 22 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 15 |
| 4 | Daytime running lamps | 14 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 14 |
| 6 | Wipers | 13 |
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 | 14.5% | 293 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.6% | 175 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.8% | 117 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.9% | 79 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.6% | 12 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.3% | 6 |
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 | 807 | 5.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,027 | 6.9% |
| 60-90k | 172 | 11.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 985 | 6.4% |
| 2025 | 1,014 | 6.8% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Defender D Mhev Auto
Before buying a 2021 Land Rover Defender D Mhev Auto, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 3.1% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (3.1% 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 (2.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.2% 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 2021 Land Rover Defender D Mhev Autos pass their MOT?
93.5% of the 2,024 2021 Land Rover Defender D Mhev Auto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Land Rover Defender D Mhev Auto?
Tyres, recorded in 3.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.0%).
Does the 2021 Defender D Mhev Auto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.0% in the 0-30k band to 11.1% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,024 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.