2005 Land Rover Freelander — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 48,122 MOT tests analysed for the 2005 Land Rover Freelander, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 69.8% was below the average for mid-size SUVs of a similar age (72.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.4% in the 150k+ group versus 26.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.7% | 9,969 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.2% | 6,815 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.6% | 6,545 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.8% | 4,696 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.3% | 2,540 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.3% | 2,525 |
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 | 5,046 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 3,901 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 3,448 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 3,249 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 2,718 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 2,707 |
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 | 44.3% | 21,300 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.8% | 14,840 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.7% | 11,892 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.9% | 9,111 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 7,505 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.8% | 6,645 |
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 | 113 | 26.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,202 | 23.5% |
| 60-90k | 6,403 | 26.7% |
| 90-120k | 14,994 | 29.3% |
| 120-150k | 15,388 | 31.4% |
| 150k+ | 9,992 | 32.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 41,850 | 30.1% |
| Petrol | 6,272 | 30.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,423 | 29.3% |
| 2022 | 11,557 | 29.9% |
| 2023 | 9,633 | 30.3% |
| 2024 | 7,647 | 31.2% |
| 2025 | 5,862 | 30.9% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Freelander
Before buying a 2005 Land Rover Freelander, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 20.7% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (20.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.2% 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 (13.6% 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 2005 Land Rover Freelanders pass their MOT?
69.8% of the 48,122 2005 Land Rover Freelander MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Land Rover Freelander?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.7% of tests, followed by brakes (14.2%).
Does the 2005 Freelander get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.6% in the 0-30k band to 32.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 48,122 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.