2006 Land Rover Freelander — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 48,905 MOT tests analysed for the 2006 Land Rover Freelander, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 70.8% was below the average for mid-size SUVs of a similar age (72.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 30.6% in the 150k+ group versus 21.9% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.4% | 9,965 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.3% | 6,488 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.2% | 5,940 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.4% | 4,619 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.8% | 2,843 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 2,375 |
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 | 4,839 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 3,501 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 3,385 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 3,337 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 2,939 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 2,479 |
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 | 43.0% | 21,049 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.5% | 14,913 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.4% | 11,958 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.0% | 8,328 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 6,778 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.4% | 6,043 |
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 | 82 | 21.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,288 | 21.5% |
| 60-90k | 6,136 | 25.0% |
| 90-120k | 15,067 | 28.8% |
| 120-150k | 15,707 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 10,601 | 30.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 48,352 | 29.3% |
| Petrol | 553 | 26.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,606 | 28.1% |
| 2022 | 11,532 | 29.1% |
| 2023 | 9,977 | 29.4% |
| 2024 | 8,304 | 30.4% |
| 2025 | 6,486 | 29.8% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Freelander
Before buying a 2006 Land Rover Freelander, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 20.4% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (20.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.3% 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 (12.2% 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 2006 Land Rover Freelanders pass their MOT?
70.8% of the 48,905 2006 Land Rover Freelander MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Land Rover Freelander?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.4% of tests, followed by brakes (13.3%).
Does the 2006 Freelander get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.9% in the 0-30k band to 30.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 48,905 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.