2013 Land Rover Discovery — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Land Rover Discovery passed 82.6% of its 38,517 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as large SUVs of a similar age (16.4% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.1%) and lighting & signalling (6.7%) 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 2,931 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.9% in the 0-30k band and 20.5% in the 150k+ band, a 11.5-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 26.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.1% | 2,732 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 2,594 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.3% | 2,444 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.8% | 1,452 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 1,061 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.1% | 806 |
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 | 2,931 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,670 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 934 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 929 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 851 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 632 |
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 | 26.8% | 10,339 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.3% | 8,215 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.1% | 7,748 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 3,133 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.4% | 2,858 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 2,517 |
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 | 224 | 8.9% |
| 30-60k | 2,616 | 12.3% |
| 60-90k | 10,106 | 15.4% |
| 90-120k | 13,101 | 17.9% |
| 120-150k | 8,109 | 19.2% |
| 150k+ | 4,355 | 20.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 38,414 | 17.4% |
| Petrol | 103 | 17.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,987 | 16.4% |
| 2022 | 7,845 | 16.6% |
| 2023 | 7,702 | 17.1% |
| 2024 | 7,615 | 18.8% |
| 2025 | 7,368 | 18.1% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Discovery
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 7.1% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (7.1% 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.
- 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.
- Brakes (6.3% 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 2013 Land Rover Discoverys pass their MOT?
82.6% of the 38,517 2013 Land Rover Discovery MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Land Rover Discovery?
Suspension, recorded in 7.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.7%).
Does the 2013 Discovery get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.9% in the 0-30k band to 20.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 38,517 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.