2013 Land Rover Discovery — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 38,489 MOT tests analysed for the 2013 Land Rover Discovery, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 82.6% was in line with the average for large SUVs of a similar age (83.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 20.5% in the 150k+ group versus 8.9% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.1% | 2,730 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 2,593 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.3% | 2,441 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.8% | 1,452 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 1,060 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.1% | 805 |
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 | 2,928 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,668 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 934 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 926 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 851 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 630 |
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 | 26.9% | 10,333 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.3% | 8,213 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.1% | 7,743 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 3,131 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.4% | 2,858 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 2,516 |
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 | 2,612 | 12.3% |
| 60-90k | 10,099 | 15.4% |
| 90-120k | 13,089 | 17.9% |
| 120-150k | 8,105 | 19.2% |
| 150k+ | 4,354 | 20.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 38,386 | 17.4% |
| Petrol | 103 | 17.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,986 | 16.4% |
| 2022 | 7,843 | 16.6% |
| 2023 | 7,699 | 17.1% |
| 2024 | 7,606 | 18.8% |
| 2025 | 7,355 | 18.1% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Discovery
Before buying a 2013 Land Rover Discovery, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 7.1% of tests for this year.
- 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 38,489 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 38,489 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.