2014 Land Rover Defender — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Land Rover Defender passed 85.6% of its 33,538 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as large SUVs of a similar age (15.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.7% of tests against 4.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and shock absorbers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,863 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.3% versus 7.4%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 19.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 4,243 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.7% | 1,564 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.1% | 1,385 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.0% | 1,328 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.4% | 796 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.5% | 492 |
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 | 1,863 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,787 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 1,538 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,353 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 1,296 |
| 6 | Wipers | 942 |
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 | 19.6% | 6,572 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.8% | 4,287 |
| 3 | Tyres | 8.4% | 2,817 |
| 4 | Steering | 8.2% | 2,749 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 7.1% | 2,375 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 1,955 |
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 | 6,864 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 13,724 | 13.2% |
| 60-90k | 8,321 | 17.9% |
| 90-120k | 3,072 | 20.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,049 | 23.4% |
| 150k+ | 503 | 25.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 33,325 | 14.4% |
| Petrol | 204 | 11.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,950 | 13.4% |
| 2022 | 6,679 | 13.6% |
| 2023 | 6,687 | 14.5% |
| 2024 | 6,632 | 15.0% |
| 2025 | 6,590 | 15.4% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Defender
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.7% 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.
- Visibility (4.1% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2014 Land Rover Defenders pass their MOT?
85.6% of the 33,538 2014 Land Rover Defender MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Land Rover Defender?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.7% of tests, followed by brakes (4.7%).
Does the 2014 Defender get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 25.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 33,538 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.