2019 Land Rover Defender — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 388 MOT tests, the 2019 Land Rover Defender recorded an 83.5% pass rate. Against large SUVs of a similar age (7.5% fail rate), the 2019 Defender comes out 8.9pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.9% of all tests — 9.5 points clear of suspension, 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 42 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.2% in the 0-30k band and 31.4% in the 150k+ band, a 21.3-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: emissions & environmental was flagged on 12.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 18.9% in 2021 to 11.4% in 2023, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 54 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.4% | 17 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.4% | 13 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 11 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 11 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.8% | 11 |
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 | 42 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 17 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 11 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 8 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 7 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 7 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 12.9% | 50 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.9% | 46 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.6% | 45 |
| 4 | Steering | 8.8% | 34 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.4% | 25 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 13 |
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 | 128 | 10.2% |
| 30-60k | 79 | 15.2% |
| 60-90k | 60 | 23.3% |
| 90-120k | 53 | 17.0% |
| 120-150k | 31 | 12.9% |
| 150k+ | 35 | 31.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 341 | 17.0% |
| Petrol | 35 | 11.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 264 | 18.9% |
| 2022 | 36 | 8.3% |
| 2023 | 35 | 11.4% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Defender
On a 2019 Defender, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (4.4% 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.
- Brakes (3.4% 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 2019 Land Rover Defenders pass their MOT?
83.5% of the 388 2019 Land Rover Defender MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Land Rover Defender?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.9% of tests, followed by suspension (4.4%).
Does the 2019 Defender get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.2% in the 0-30k band to 31.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 388 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.