1991 Land Rover Defender — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 10,457 MOT tests, the 1991 Land Rover Defender recorded a 75.6% pass rate. Large SUVs of a similar age fail at 23.6%, so the 1991 Defender sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.1% of all tests — 8.5 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, chassis condition and component mounting prescribed areas — headlamp aim alone was recorded 697 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.4% versus 20.9%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 29.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.0% in 2021 to 23.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.1% | 1,894 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.7% | 1,010 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.5% | 990 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.3% | 867 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.9% | 829 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.3% | 661 |
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 | 697 |
| 2 | Chassis condition | 665 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 573 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 554 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 498 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 422 |
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 | 29.2% | 3,054 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 25.5% | 2,663 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.4% | 2,242 |
| 4 | Steering | 19.8% | 2,073 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.2% | 1,902 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 11.6% | 1,209 |
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 | 469 | 20.9% |
| 30-60k | 513 | 21.1% |
| 60-90k | 937 | 24.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,898 | 24.6% |
| 120-150k | 2,062 | 23.4% |
| 150k+ | 4,559 | 25.4% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 10,117 | 24.5% |
| Petrol | 330 | 20.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,104 | 26.0% |
| 2022 | 2,211 | 24.4% |
| 2023 | 2,142 | 25.4% |
| 2024 | 2,033 | 22.9% |
| 2025 | 1,967 | 23.1% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Defender
On a 1991 Defender, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.7% 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+.
- Suspension (9.5% 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.
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 1991 Land Rover Defenders pass their MOT?
75.6% of the 10,457 1991 Land Rover Defender MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Land Rover Defender?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.1% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (9.7%).
Does the 1991 Defender get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.9% in the 0-30k band to 25.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,457 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.