2004 Land Rover Freelander — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 41,990 MOT tests analysed for the 2004 Land Rover Freelander, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 70.0% was below the average for mid-size SUVs of a similar age (71.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.2% in the 150k+ group versus 24.0% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.3% | 8,956 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.4% | 6,044 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.8% | 5,810 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.2% | 3,880 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.1% | 2,131 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.9% | 2,075 |
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 | 4,041 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 3,941 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 2,856 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 2,792 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 2,710 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 2,390 |
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 | 43.4% | 18,222 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.9% | 12,986 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.6% | 9,898 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.3% | 7,272 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 6,970 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.1% | 5,513 |
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 | 104 | 24.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,213 | 19.1% |
| 60-90k | 5,161 | 27.0% |
| 90-120k | 12,349 | 29.6% |
| 120-150k | 13,356 | 31.0% |
| 150k+ | 9,783 | 32.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 34,816 | 30.0% |
| Petrol | 7,174 | 30.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,489 | 29.7% |
| 2022 | 10,324 | 29.9% |
| 2023 | 8,226 | 30.4% |
| 2024 | 6,278 | 30.7% |
| 2025 | 4,673 | 29.8% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Freelander
Before buying a 2004 Land Rover Freelander, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 21.3% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (21.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.4% 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 (13.8% 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 2004 Land Rover Freelanders pass their MOT?
70.0% of the 41,990 2004 Land Rover Freelander MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Land Rover Freelander?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.3% of tests, followed by brakes (14.4%).
Does the 2004 Freelander get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.0% in the 0-30k band to 32.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 41,990 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.