2008 Land Rover Defender — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 22,696 MOT tests, the 2008 Land Rover Defender recorded a 78.5% pass rate. Against large SUVs of a similar age (22.9% fail rate), the 2008 Defender comes out 1.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.8% of all tests — 4.7 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rigid brake pipes and shock absorbers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,339 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.9% versus 13.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 28.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 2,912 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.1% | 1,847 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.9% | 1,785 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.3% | 1,655 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.2% | 1,189 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 878 |
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 | 1,339 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,205 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 1,180 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 895 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 871 |
| 6 | Wipers | 756 |
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 | 28.5% | 6,473 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.3% | 5,738 |
| 3 | Steering | 17.8% | 4,034 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.6% | 3,992 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 11.5% | 2,619 |
| 6 | Tyres | 9.2% | 2,095 |
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 | 844 | 13.0% |
| 30-60k | 3,599 | 18.5% |
| 60-90k | 6,799 | 20.6% |
| 90-120k | 5,966 | 23.1% |
| 120-150k | 3,479 | 25.3% |
| 150k+ | 2,003 | 22.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 22,626 | 21.6% |
| Petrol | 64 | 10.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,670 | 21.9% |
| 2022 | 4,650 | 21.5% |
| 2023 | 4,563 | 21.9% |
| 2024 | 4,424 | 20.8% |
| 2025 | 4,389 | 21.6% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Defender
On a 2008 Defender, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.1% 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 (7.9% 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 2008 Land Rover Defenders pass their MOT?
78.5% of the 22,696 2008 Land Rover Defender MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Land Rover Defender?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.8% of tests, followed by brakes (8.1%).
Does the 2008 Defender get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.0% in the 0-30k band to 22.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,696 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.