2007 Land Rover Freelander — MOT failures & pass rate
93,461 MOT tests on the 2007 Land Rover Freelander are in this dataset, and 75.2% of them passed. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 27.4% of the time, so this is 2.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.7%) and suspension (13.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and individual direction indicators — position lamp alone was recorded 4,183 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.9% in the 0-30k band and 27.7% in the 150k+ band, a 8.9-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.9pp more often than petrol ones (24.9% vs 21.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 33.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 23.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 12,785 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.5% | 12,643 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.2% | 8,596 |
| 4 | Steering | 4.7% | 4,419 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.6% | 3,344 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 2,941 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 4,183 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 4,135 |
| 3 | Individual direction indicators | 3,468 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 3,414 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 3,149 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 3,046 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 33.5% | 31,347 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.4% | 22,790 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.7% | 21,252 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 13.1% | 12,238 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 11,063 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.1% | 9,428 |
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 | 191 | 18.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,455 | 12.0% |
| 60-90k | 7,843 | 17.8% |
| 90-120k | 21,873 | 22.7% |
| 120-150k | 29,770 | 25.8% |
| 150k+ | 32,306 | 27.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 91,205 | 24.9% |
| Petrol | 2,256 | 21.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,810 | 23.3% |
| 2022 | 20,225 | 23.8% |
| 2023 | 19,169 | 24.7% |
| 2024 | 17,659 | 26.4% |
| 2025 | 15,598 | 26.5% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Freelander
On a 2007 Freelander, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.5% 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.
- Brakes (9.2% 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.
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 2007 Land Rover Freelanders pass their MOT?
75.2% of the 93,461 2007 Land Rover Freelander MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Land Rover Freelander?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.7% of tests, followed by suspension (13.5%).
Does the 2007 Freelander get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.9% in the 0-30k band to 27.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 93,461 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.