2020 Land Rover Discovery S D 4X2 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,101 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Land Rover Discovery S D 4X2, the most common recorded failure areas were emissions & environmental, visibility and tyres. Its pass rate of 84.3% was below the average for cars of a similar age (90.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 20.2% in the 60-90k group versus 13.4% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 7.6% | 84 |
| 2 | Visibility | 5.5% | 60 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.8% | 42 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.8% | 31 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.5% | 28 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.6% | 18 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 68 |
| 2 | Wipers | 63 |
| 3 | On or after 01/01/2014 | 38 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 24 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 21 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 10 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 20.4% | 225 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.3% | 212 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.7% | 118 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.0% | 66 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.0% | 55 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 28 |
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 | 447 | 13.4% |
| 30-60k | 563 | 16.7% |
| 60-90k | 84 | 20.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 375 | 17.9% |
| 2024 | 359 | 16.2% |
| 2025 | 345 | 13.0% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Discovery S D 4X2
Before buying a 2020 Land Rover Discovery S D 4X2, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Emissions & environmental accounted for 7.6% of tests for this year.
- Emissions & environmental (7.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Visibility (5.5% 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.
- Tyres (3.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2020 Land Rover Discovery S D 4X2s pass their MOT?
84.3% of the 1,101 2020 Land Rover Discovery S D 4X2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Land Rover Discovery S D 4X2?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by visibility (5.5%).
Does the 2020 Discovery S D 4X2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.4% in the 0-30k band to 20.2% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,101 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.