2007 Land Rover Defender — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 24,576 MOT tests, the 2007 Land Rover Defender recorded a 77.4% pass rate. That is 1.2 percentage points better than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 23.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.3% of tests against 8.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, shock absorbers and rigid brake pipes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,420 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.0% in the 0-30k band and 25.8% in the 150k+ band, a 10.7-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 29.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 3,257 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.7% | 2,145 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.1% | 2,001 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.3% | 1,787 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.4% | 1,335 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 1,125 |
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 | 1,420 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 1,334 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,328 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 1,060 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 906 |
| 6 | Wipers | 873 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 29.4% | 7,228 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.1% | 6,172 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 20.2% | 4,959 |
| 4 | Steering | 18.4% | 4,510 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 12.2% | 3,000 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.1% | 2,733 |
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 | 579 | 15.0% |
| 30-60k | 3,172 | 18.2% |
| 60-90k | 7,279 | 21.6% |
| 90-120k | 6,786 | 23.8% |
| 120-150k | 3,965 | 24.9% |
| 150k+ | 2,777 | 25.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 24,504 | 22.6% |
| Petrol | 65 | 13.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,142 | 23.1% |
| 2022 | 4,981 | 22.1% |
| 2023 | 4,880 | 22.3% |
| 2024 | 4,856 | 22.8% |
| 2025 | 4,717 | 22.8% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Defender
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.7% 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.
- Suspension (8.1% 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 2007 Land Rover Defenders pass their MOT?
77.4% of the 24,576 2007 Land Rover Defender MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Land Rover Defender?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by brakes (8.7%).
Does the 2007 Defender get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.0% in the 0-30k band to 25.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 24,576 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.