2002 Land Rover Discovery — MOT failures & pass rate
31,388 MOT tests on the 2002 Land Rover Discovery are in this dataset, and 74.6% of them passed. That is effectively the same as large SUVs of a similar age (25.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.1%) and suspension (13.5%) 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 ball joint — chassis condition alone was recorded 2,150 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2002 Discovery fails 22.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 25.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.3 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 25.1% of the time against 25.4% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.9% in 2021 to 23.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.1% | 5,037 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.5% | 4,239 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.0% | 3,447 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.2% | 3,211 |
| 5 | Steering | 6.0% | 1,885 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.6% | 1,451 |
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 | 2,150 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,090 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 1,748 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 1,702 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,581 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 1,401 |
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 | 33.6% | 10,534 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 32.1% | 10,073 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.0% | 7,853 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.2% | 7,602 |
| 5 | Steering | 16.9% | 5,288 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 4,318 |
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 | 58 | 22.4% |
| 30-60k | 284 | 19.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,630 | 22.5% |
| 90-120k | 4,965 | 25.2% |
| 120-150k | 9,002 | 25.7% |
| 150k+ | 15,376 | 25.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 30,358 | 25.4% |
| Petrol | 1,019 | 25.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,004 | 26.9% |
| 2022 | 7,028 | 25.7% |
| 2023 | 6,284 | 25.3% |
| 2024 | 5,401 | 24.6% |
| 2025 | 4,671 | 23.6% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Discovery
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.5% 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 (11.0% 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 2002 Land Rover Discoverys pass their MOT?
74.6% of the 31,388 2002 Land Rover Discovery MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Land Rover Discovery?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by suspension (13.5%).
Does the 2002 Discovery get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.4% in the 0-30k band to 25.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 31,388 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.