2002 Land Rover Freelander — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 20,312 MOT tests analysed for the 2002 Land Rover Freelander, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 70.2% was below the average for mid-size SUVs of a similar age (71.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.4% in the 150k+ group versus 20.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.6% | 3,983 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.6% | 2,959 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.2% | 2,890 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.8% | 1,988 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.5% | 1,122 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.7% | 953 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,890 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 1,543 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,270 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,194 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,036 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,026 |
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 | 43.3% | 8,800 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.4% | 6,382 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.0% | 4,680 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.4% | 3,933 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 2,527 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.3% | 2,306 |
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 | 187 | 20.3% |
| 30-60k | 591 | 19.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,230 | 24.5% |
| 90-120k | 4,789 | 28.5% |
| 120-150k | 5,585 | 31.2% |
| 150k+ | 6,779 | 32.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 16,253 | 30.1% |
| Petrol | 4,052 | 28.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,507 | 30.4% |
| 2022 | 4,957 | 30.3% |
| 2023 | 3,807 | 29.4% |
| 2024 | 2,874 | 29.4% |
| 2025 | 2,167 | 28.6% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Freelander
Before buying a 2002 Land Rover Freelander, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 19.6% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (19.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.6% 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.
- Suspension (14.2% 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 2002 Land Rover Freelanders pass their MOT?
70.2% of the 20,312 2002 Land Rover Freelander MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Land Rover Freelander?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.6% of tests, followed by brakes (14.6%).
Does the 2002 Freelander get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.3% in the 0-30k band to 32.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 20,312 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.