2016 Land Rover Discovery — MOT failures & pass rate
56,592 MOT tests on the 2016 Land Rover Discovery are in this dataset, and 87.0% of them passed. Large SUVs of a similar age fail at 12.4%, so the 2016 Discovery sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.3%) and brakes (4.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are registration plate lamp(s), pins and bushes and rigid brake pipes — registration plate lamp(s) alone was recorded 2,479 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.3% in the 0-30k band and 14.9% in the 150k+ band, a 7.7-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 20.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 12.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.3% | 2,986 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.6% | 2,615 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.6% | 2,049 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.9% | 1,613 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 1,481 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.7% | 958 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 2,479 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 2,228 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,525 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,329 |
| 5 | Prop shaft | 855 |
| 6 | Wipers | 734 |
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 | 20.7% | 11,703 |
| 2 | Tyres | 16.9% | 9,588 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.4% | 7,014 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 3,919 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.1% | 3,477 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.0% | 2,256 |
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 | 2,404 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 17,586 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 21,441 | 14.0% |
| 90-120k | 10,683 | 15.3% |
| 120-150k | 3,269 | 15.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,205 | 14.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 56,439 | 13.1% |
| Petrol | 153 | 14.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,651 | 12.0% |
| 2022 | 11,445 | 12.0% |
| 2023 | 11,302 | 13.3% |
| 2024 | 11,262 | 14.6% |
| 2025 | 10,932 | 13.5% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Discovery
On a 2016 Discovery, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (5.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.6% 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.
- Tyres (3.6% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2016 Land Rover Discoverys pass their MOT?
87.0% of the 56,592 2016 Land Rover Discovery MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Land Rover Discovery?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by brakes (4.6%).
Does the 2016 Discovery get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 14.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 56,592 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.