2005 Land Rover Discovery — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 52,604 MOT tests, the 2005 Land Rover Discovery recorded a 75.7% pass rate. Large SUVs of a similar age fail at 25.0%, so the 2005 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 (13.3%) and suspension (12.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, position lamp and stop lamp — pins and bushes alone was recorded 4,758 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.5% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.7pp more often than petrol ones (24.3% vs 22.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 35.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 6,987 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.5% | 6,590 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.5% | 4,991 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 3,537 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.9% | 2,025 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 1,986 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 4,758 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 3,446 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 2,710 |
| 4 | Flexible brake hoses | 1,963 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,913 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 1,791 |
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 | 35.6% | 18,754 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.8% | 16,713 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.4% | 11,239 |
| 4 | Other defects | 20.5% | 10,804 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.9% | 9,932 |
| 6 | Steering | 9.3% | 4,869 |
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 | 85 | 14.1% |
| 30-60k | 467 | 17.8% |
| 60-90k | 2,075 | 21.3% |
| 90-120k | 6,342 | 23.8% |
| 120-150k | 13,754 | 24.7% |
| 150k+ | 29,863 | 24.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 50,692 | 24.3% |
| Petrol | 1,903 | 22.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,598 | 24.2% |
| 2022 | 11,783 | 24.1% |
| 2023 | 10,651 | 24.5% |
| 2024 | 9,434 | 24.4% |
| 2025 | 8,138 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Discovery
On a 2005 Discovery, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.5% 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 (9.5% 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 2005 Land Rover Discoverys pass their MOT?
75.7% of the 52,604 2005 Land Rover Discovery MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Land Rover Discovery?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by suspension (12.5%).
Does the 2005 Discovery get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.1% in the 0-30k band to 24.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 52,604 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.