2001 Land Rover Discovery — MOT failures & pass rate
25,431 MOT tests on the 2001 Land Rover Discovery are in this dataset, and 73.9% of them passed. Large SUVs of a similar age fail at 25.1%, so the 2001 Discovery sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.6%) and suspension (14.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are chassis condition, headlamp aim and component mounting prescribed areas — chassis condition alone was recorded 2,132 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.4% versus 20.0%.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 26.1% of the time against 27.0% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.7% in 2021 to 23.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 4,215 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.5% | 3,678 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.8% | 2,999 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.3% | 2,864 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.9% | 1,488 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 1,217 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chassis condition | 2,132 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,733 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,570 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 1,503 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 1,444 |
| 6 | Ball joint dust cover | 1,284 |
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 | 34.4% | 8,745 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 32.0% | 8,135 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.2% | 6,655 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.5% | 6,493 |
| 5 | Steering | 16.5% | 4,187 |
| 6 | Tyres | 13.4% | 3,409 |
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 | 65 | 20.0% |
| 30-60k | 225 | 16.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,288 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 4,026 | 25.4% |
| 120-150k | 6,928 | 26.4% |
| 150k+ | 12,809 | 26.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 24,406 | 26.1% |
| Petrol | 1,022 | 27.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,757 | 27.7% |
| 2022 | 5,785 | 26.2% |
| 2023 | 4,969 | 25.8% |
| 2024 | 4,234 | 25.6% |
| 2025 | 3,686 | 23.9% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Discovery
On a 2001 Discovery, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.5% 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 (11.8% 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 2001 Land Rover Discoverys pass their MOT?
73.9% of the 25,431 2001 Land Rover Discovery MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Land Rover Discovery?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.6% of tests, followed by suspension (14.5%).
Does the 2001 Discovery get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 0-30k band to 26.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 25,431 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.