2009 Land Rover Discovery — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 33,431 MOT tests, the 2009 Land Rover Discovery recorded a 77.6% pass rate. Large SUVs of a similar age fail at 21.7%, so the 2009 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 (9.7%) and suspension (9.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, rigid brake pipes and position lamp — pins and bushes alone was recorded 2,683 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.8% versus 11.2%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 31.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 3,231 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.4% | 3,159 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.0% | 3,016 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 1,964 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.9% | 1,286 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 1,204 |
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 | 2,683 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,555 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,191 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,003 |
| 5 | Flexible brake hoses | 871 |
| 6 | Joints | 866 |
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 | 31.6% | 10,567 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.3% | 9,469 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.5% | 7,177 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.8% | 4,941 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.8% | 3,615 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 2,333 |
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 | 89 | 11.2% |
| 30-60k | 658 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,862 | 19.5% |
| 90-120k | 8,332 | 21.6% |
| 120-150k | 11,112 | 22.9% |
| 150k+ | 10,365 | 23.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 33,323 | 22.4% |
| Petrol | 108 | 23.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,372 | 21.4% |
| 2022 | 7,131 | 22.3% |
| 2023 | 6,776 | 22.5% |
| 2024 | 6,345 | 22.9% |
| 2025 | 5,807 | 23.0% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Discovery
On a 2009 Discovery, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.4% 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 (9.0% 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 2009 Land Rover Discoverys pass their MOT?
77.6% of the 33,431 2009 Land Rover Discovery MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Land Rover Discovery?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.7% of tests, followed by suspension (9.4%).
Does the 2009 Discovery get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.2% in the 0-30k band to 23.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 33,431 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.