2010 Land Rover Freelander — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Land Rover Freelander passed 79.3% of its 88,014 recorded MOT tests. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 25.4% of the time, so this is 4.7pp 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 (10.3%) and suspension (9.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, headlamp aim and shock absorbers — track rod end alone was recorded 3,271 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.7% versus 6.2%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 24.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 9,059 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.4% | 8,314 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.7% | 6,802 |
| 4 | Steering | 4.3% | 3,748 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.4% | 3,026 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.4% | 2,131 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 3,271 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 3,233 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 2,712 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 2,603 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 2,397 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 2,395 |
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 | 24.1% | 21,165 |
| 2 | Tyres | 21.7% | 19,075 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.0% | 18,503 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.9% | 7,827 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 6,946 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.7% | 5,908 |
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 | 322 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 4,419 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 16,569 | 15.8% |
| 90-120k | 28,996 | 20.3% |
| 120-150k | 23,204 | 23.5% |
| 150k+ | 14,483 | 25.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 87,847 | 20.7% |
| Petrol | 167 | 21.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,795 | 18.2% |
| 2022 | 17,745 | 18.8% |
| 2023 | 17,766 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 17,613 | 22.4% |
| 2025 | 17,095 | 23.5% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Freelander
On a 2010 Freelander, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.4% 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 (7.7% 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 2010 Land Rover Freelanders pass their MOT?
79.3% of the 88,014 2010 Land Rover Freelander MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Land Rover Freelander?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.3% of tests, followed by suspension (9.4%).
Does the 2010 Freelander get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 25.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 88,014 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.