1999 Land Rover Freelander — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Land Rover Freelander passed 67.6% of its 2,472 recorded MOT tests. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (28.3% fail rate), the 1999 Freelander comes out 4.0pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: brakes, recorded in 18.8% of tests against 15.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 356 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 27.8% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 32.0% once past 150k.
The diesel cars hold up better: 31.3% fail against 33.6% for petrol, a 2.3-point gap across 2,471 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 40.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 18.8% | 464 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 380 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.4% | 356 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 11.1% | 275 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.2% | 253 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.6% | 138 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 356 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 243 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 196 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 153 |
| 5 | Anti-lock braking system | 140 |
| 6 | Wipers | 129 |
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 | 40.1% | 990 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.7% | 832 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 24.3% | 601 |
| 4 | Tyres | 21.2% | 525 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.2% | 425 |
| 6 | Steering | 10.9% | 269 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 176 | 27.8% |
| 60-90k | 481 | 31.6% |
| 90-120k | 623 | 30.2% |
| 120-150k | 550 | 36.4% |
| 150k+ | 596 | 32.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,328 | 31.3% |
| Petrol | 1,143 | 33.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 822 | 32.4% |
| 2022 | 600 | 31.5% |
| 2023 | 467 | 32.1% |
| 2024 | 339 | 34.2% |
| 2025 | 244 | 32.4% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Freelander
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 18.8% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (18.8% 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 (15.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.4% 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.
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 1999 Land Rover Freelanders pass their MOT?
67.6% of the 2,472 1999 Land Rover Freelander MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Land Rover Freelander?
Brakes, recorded in 18.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.4%).
Does the 1999 Freelander get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.8% in the 30-60k band to 32.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,472 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.