2003 Land Rover Freelander — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 27,780 MOT tests analysed for the 2003 Land Rover Freelander, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 69.9% was below the average for mid-size SUVs of a similar age (71.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.5% in the 150k+ group versus 14.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.1% | 5,307 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.7% | 4,077 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.0% | 3,888 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 2,646 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.9% | 1,628 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.0% | 1,386 |
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 | 2,710 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 1,839 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,648 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,485 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,478 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 1,450 |
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 | 44.5% | 12,358 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.9% | 8,864 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.1% | 6,966 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.0% | 5,010 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.5% | 3,467 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 3,044 |
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 | 99 | 14.1% |
| 30-60k | 852 | 20.4% |
| 60-90k | 3,082 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 7,276 | 29.4% |
| 120-150k | 8,462 | 31.3% |
| 150k+ | 7,984 | 32.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 22,759 | 30.2% |
| Petrol | 5,014 | 30.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,715 | 30.3% |
| 2022 | 6,980 | 30.2% |
| 2023 | 5,262 | 29.7% |
| 2024 | 3,925 | 30.8% |
| 2025 | 2,898 | 29.4% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Freelander
Before buying a 2003 Land Rover Freelander, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 19.1% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (19.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.7% 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 (14.0% 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 2003 Land Rover Freelanders pass their MOT?
69.9% of the 27,780 2003 Land Rover Freelander MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Land Rover Freelander?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.1% of tests, followed by brakes (14.7%).
Does the 2003 Freelander get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.1% in the 0-30k band to 32.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 27,780 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.