2013 Land Rover Defender — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 25,605 MOT tests, the 2013 Land Rover Defender recorded an 83.2% pass rate. Large SUVs of a similar age fail at 16.4%, so the 2013 Defender sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.2% of all tests — 8.6 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and shock absorbers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,549 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 22.1% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 21.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 3,646 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.6% | 1,438 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.1% | 1,302 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.8% | 1,229 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.7% | 941 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.5% | 383 |
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 | 1,549 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,410 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 1,403 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 1,034 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 966 |
| 6 | Wipers | 853 |
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 | 21.4% | 5,482 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.1% | 3,855 |
| 3 | Steering | 10.6% | 2,709 |
| 4 | Tyres | 9.7% | 2,494 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.2% | 2,098 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 7.5% | 1,930 |
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 | 3,448 | 8.8% |
| 30-60k | 9,823 | 15.4% |
| 60-90k | 7,562 | 19.2% |
| 90-120k | 3,161 | 21.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,095 | 23.0% |
| 150k+ | 511 | 22.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 25,505 | 16.9% |
| Petrol | 100 | 8.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,311 | 16.3% |
| 2022 | 5,102 | 16.5% |
| 2023 | 5,075 | 16.5% |
| 2024 | 5,111 | 17.6% |
| 2025 | 5,006 | 17.4% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Defender
On a 2013 Defender, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.6% 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 (5.1% 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 2013 Land Rover Defenders pass their MOT?
83.2% of the 25,605 2013 Land Rover Defender MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Land Rover Defender?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.2% of tests, followed by brakes (5.6%).
Does the 2013 Defender get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.8% in the 0-30k band to 22.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 25,605 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.