2008 Land Rover Discovery — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 32,961 MOT tests analysed for the 2008 Land Rover Discovery, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 76.5% was in line with the average for large SUVs of a similar age (77.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 24.6% in the 150k+ group versus 17.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 3,826 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.4% | 3,426 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.3% | 3,053 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 1,954 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 1,401 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.0% | 1,326 |
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 | 2,829 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,692 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,341 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 1,219 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,133 |
| 6 | Joints | 934 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 31.7% | 10,440 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.5% | 10,042 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.8% | 7,190 |
| 4 | Other defects | 18.6% | 6,123 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.6% | 5,127 |
| 6 | Steering | 8.9% | 2,933 |
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 | 45 | 17.8% |
| 30-60k | 381 | 16.0% |
| 60-90k | 2,090 | 20.9% |
| 90-120k | 6,809 | 22.2% |
| 120-150k | 10,760 | 23.7% |
| 150k+ | 12,861 | 24.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 32,846 | 23.5% |
| Petrol | 115 | 20.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,670 | 23.5% |
| 2022 | 7,302 | 23.7% |
| 2023 | 6,721 | 23.3% |
| 2024 | 5,993 | 23.4% |
| 2025 | 5,275 | 23.4% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Discovery
Before buying a 2008 Land Rover Discovery, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 11.6% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (11.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.4% 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 (9.3% 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 2008 Land Rover Discoverys pass their MOT?
76.5% of the 32,961 2008 Land Rover Discovery MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Land Rover Discovery?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.6% of tests, followed by suspension (10.4%).
Does the 2008 Discovery get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.8% in the 0-30k band to 24.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 32,961 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.