1991 Land Rover Discovery — MOT failures & pass rate
689 MOT tests on the 1991 Land Rover Discovery are in this dataset, and 79.1% of them passed. That is 2.7 percentage points better than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 23.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.0% of tests against 10.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are integral vehicle structure condition, headlamp aim and chassis condition — integral vehicle structure condition alone was recorded 85 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1991 Discovery fails 16.7% of the time in the 30-60k band and 20.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.6 points.
Emissions & environmental is the most common advisory, noted on 25.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 110 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.7% | 74 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.8% | 54 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.4% | 44 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.9% | 34 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.6% | 25 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 85 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 59 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 48 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 47 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 40 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 27 |
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 | 25.0% | 172 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.2% | 167 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.8% | 164 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.2% | 139 |
| 5 | Steering | 18.1% | 125 |
| 6 | Tyres | 12.2% | 84 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 42 | 16.7% |
| 60-90k | 63 | 19.1% |
| 90-120k | 102 | 24.5% |
| 120-150k | 143 | 22.4% |
| 150k+ | 330 | 20.3% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 594 | 20.0% |
| Petrol | 95 | 26.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 160 | 20.0% |
| 2022 | 148 | 18.2% |
| 2023 | 136 | 19.9% |
| 2024 | 122 | 22.9% |
| 2025 | 123 | 24.4% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Discovery
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.7% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Brakes (7.8% 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 1991 Land Rover Discoverys pass their MOT?
79.1% of the 689 1991 Land Rover Discovery MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Land Rover Discovery?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.0% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (10.7%).
Does the 1991 Discovery get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.7% in the 30-60k band to 20.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 689 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.