1992 Land Rover Discovery — MOT failures & pass rate
981 MOT tests on the 1992 Land Rover Discovery are in this dataset, and 79.8% of them passed. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 23.6% of the time, so this is 3.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.8% of all tests — 3.1 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are integral vehicle structure condition, prescribed areas and headlamp aim — integral vehicle structure condition alone was recorded 95 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1992 Discovery fails 21.0% of the time in the 60-90k band and 20.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.3 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 27.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 19.9% in 2021 to 17.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 135 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.7% | 105 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.5% | 83 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.9% | 68 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.5% | 44 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.4% | 43 |
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 | 95 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 70 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 69 |
| 4 | Chassis condition | 55 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 55 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 35 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 27.3% | 268 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.5% | 250 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.8% | 234 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.6% | 222 |
| 5 | Steering | 17.6% | 173 |
| 6 | Tyres | 15.4% | 151 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 100 | 21.0% |
| 90-120k | 150 | 20.7% |
| 120-150k | 211 | 18.5% |
| 150k+ | 488 | 20.7% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 878 | 19.6% |
| Petrol | 103 | 25.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 226 | 19.9% |
| 2022 | 223 | 22.0% |
| 2023 | 198 | 21.2% |
| 2024 | 176 | 19.3% |
| 2025 | 158 | 17.7% |
What to check before buying a 1992 Discovery
On a 1992 Discovery, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.8% 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 (8.5% 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 1992 Land Rover Discoverys pass their MOT?
79.8% of the 981 1992 Land Rover Discovery MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Land Rover Discovery?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.8% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (10.7%).
Does the 1992 Discovery get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.0% in the 60-90k band to 20.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 981 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.