2009 Land Rover Freelander — MOT failures & pass rate
62,627 MOT tests on the 2009 Land Rover Freelander are in this dataset, and 78.7% of them passed. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 26.3% of the time, so this is 5.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (10.6%) and lighting & signalling (10.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, shock absorbers and stop lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 2,665 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.9% in the 0-30k band and 25.6% in the 150k+ band, a 16.7-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 27.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.6% | 6,651 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 6,572 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.3% | 5,207 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.4% | 2,141 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.9% | 1,787 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.7% | 1,670 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 2,665 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 2,290 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 1,826 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 1,818 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,660 |
| 6 | Decelerometer (sp) | 1,627 |
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 | 27.3% | 17,071 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.3% | 13,943 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.3% | 13,940 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.6% | 5,989 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.0% | 5,629 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 4,959 |
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 | 225 | 8.9% |
| 30-60k | 2,544 | 11.5% |
| 60-90k | 9,198 | 16.5% |
| 90-120k | 19,376 | 20.4% |
| 120-150k | 18,102 | 23.1% |
| 150k+ | 13,169 | 25.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 62,492 | 21.3% |
| Petrol | 135 | 15.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,900 | 18.9% |
| 2022 | 12,792 | 19.7% |
| 2023 | 12,658 | 21.1% |
| 2024 | 12,478 | 22.9% |
| 2025 | 11,799 | 24.2% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Freelander
On a 2009 Freelander, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (10.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.3% 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.
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 2009 Land Rover Freelanders pass their MOT?
78.7% of the 62,627 2009 Land Rover Freelander MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Land Rover Freelander?
Suspension, recorded in 10.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.5%).
Does the 2009 Freelander get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.9% in the 0-30k band to 25.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 62,627 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.