2016 Land Rover Defender — MOT failures & pass rate
10,257 MOT tests on the 2016 Land Rover Defender are in this dataset, and 90.0% of them passed. That is 2.3 percentage points better than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 12.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.6% of tests against 3.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and shock absorbers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 575 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.3% versus 5.8%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 10.4% 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 | 9.6% | 988 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.0% | 308 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.9% | 293 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.6% | 272 |
| 5 | Tyres | 1.1% | 111 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 89 |
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 | 575 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 399 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 319 |
| 4 | Wipers | 268 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 210 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 156 |
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 | 10.4% | 1,072 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.5% | 870 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.3% | 544 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.5% | 460 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 446 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.1% | 416 |
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 | 5,508 | 5.8% |
| 30-60k | 3,089 | 12.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,074 | 17.6% |
| 90-120k | 384 | 20.1% |
| 120-150k | 139 | 25.9% |
| 150k+ | 61 | 21.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 10,007 | 10.0% |
| Petrol | 245 | 11.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,419 | 10.2% |
| 2022 | 2,041 | 10.2% |
| 2023 | 1,962 | 9.4% |
| 2024 | 1,901 | 10.7% |
| 2025 | 1,934 | 9.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Defender
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.0% 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.
- Brakes (2.9% 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.
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 2016 Land Rover Defenders pass their MOT?
90.0% of the 10,257 2016 Land Rover Defender MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Land Rover Defender?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.6% of tests, followed by visibility (3.0%).
Does the 2016 Defender get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.8% in the 0-30k band to 21.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,257 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.