2012 Land Rover Discovery — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 41,748 MOT tests, the 2012 Land Rover Discovery recorded an 81.7% pass rate. Large SUVs of a similar age fail at 17.8%, so the 2012 Discovery sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.4%) and brakes (6.8%) 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 registration plate lamp(s) — pins and bushes alone was recorded 3,388 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.6% versus 8.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 28.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.4% | 3,103 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.8% | 2,826 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 2,809 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.9% | 1,609 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 1,595 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.3% | 946 |
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 | 3,388 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,798 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,114 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,001 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 759 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 690 |
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 | 28.0% | 11,693 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.2% | 9,257 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.3% | 8,463 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.3% | 3,861 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 3,480 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.6% | 3,176 |
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 | 196 | 8.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,932 | 9.8% |
| 60-90k | 8,218 | 14.6% |
| 90-120k | 14,672 | 18.6% |
| 120-150k | 10,576 | 20.4% |
| 150k+ | 6,149 | 21.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 41,651 | 18.3% |
| Petrol | 97 | 12.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,686 | 17.0% |
| 2022 | 8,650 | 18.0% |
| 2023 | 8,403 | 18.2% |
| 2024 | 8,199 | 19.2% |
| 2025 | 7,810 | 19.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Discovery
On a 2012 Discovery, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (7.4% 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 (6.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2012 Land Rover Discoverys pass their MOT?
81.7% of the 41,748 2012 Land Rover Discovery MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Land Rover Discovery?
Suspension, recorded in 7.4% of tests, followed by brakes (6.8%).
Does the 2012 Discovery get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.7% in the 0-30k band to 21.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 41,748 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.