2005 Land Rover Discovery — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 52,598 MOT tests analysed for the 2005 Land Rover Discovery, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 75.7% was in line with the average for large SUVs of a similar age (75.0%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 24.5% in the 150k+ group versus 14.1% in the 0-30k group.
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% | 4,990 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 3,537 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.9% | 2,026 |
| 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 | 4,759 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 3,443 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 2,709 |
| 4 | Flexible brake hoses | 1,963 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,913 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 1,793 |
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% | 18,748 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.8% | 16,712 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.4% | 11,236 |
| 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 | 6,340 | 23.8% |
| 120-150k | 13,752 | 24.7% |
| 150k+ | 29,861 | 24.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 50,686 | 24.3% |
| Petrol | 1,903 | 22.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,598 | 24.2% |
| 2022 | 11,781 | 24.1% |
| 2023 | 10,651 | 24.5% |
| 2024 | 9,431 | 24.4% |
| 2025 | 8,137 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Discovery
Before buying a 2005 Land Rover Discovery, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 13.3% of tests for this year.
- 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 52,598 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 52,598 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.