2006 Land Rover Freelander — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Land Rover Freelander passed 70.8% of its 48,913 recorded MOT tests. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 27.7% of the time, so this is 1.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.4% of tests against 13.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, position lamp and headlamp aim — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 4,839 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 21.9% in the 0-30k band and 30.6% in the 150k+ band, a 8.7-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 26.4% fail against 29.3% for diesel, a 2.8-point gap across 48,913 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 43.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 28.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.4% | 9,967 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.3% | 6,488 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.1% | 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 | 3,503 |
| 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% | 11,959 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.0% | 8,328 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 6,778 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.3% | 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 | 6,140 | 25.0% |
| 90-120k | 15,067 | 28.8% |
| 120-150k | 15,707 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 10,605 | 30.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 48,360 | 29.3% |
| Petrol | 553 | 26.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,606 | 28.1% |
| 2022 | 11,534 | 29.1% |
| 2023 | 9,979 | 29.4% |
| 2024 | 8,306 | 30.4% |
| 2025 | 6,488 | 29.8% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Freelander
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.4% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (12.1% 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 48,913 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 48,913 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.