2011 Land Rover Freelander — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 74,311 MOT tests, the 2011 Land Rover Freelander recorded an 82.2% pass rate. That is 6.3 percentage points better than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 24.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.7%) and suspension (6.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, position lamp and tread depth — track rod end alone was recorded 2,453 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 3.9% in the 0-30k band and 24.4% in the 150k+ band, a 20.5-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 5,739 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.8% | 5,032 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.7% | 4,970 |
| 4 | Steering | 3.4% | 2,537 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.3% | 2,447 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.3% | 1,672 |
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 | 2,453 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 2,420 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,853 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 1,736 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 1,703 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 1,599 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 21.1% | 15,671 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.3% | 15,087 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.6% | 13,796 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.9% | 5,848 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.1% | 5,307 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 3,678 |
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 | 416 | 3.9% |
| 30-60k | 5,108 | 8.8% |
| 60-90k | 17,781 | 13.3% |
| 90-120k | 25,527 | 18.2% |
| 120-150k | 16,403 | 21.3% |
| 150k+ | 9,070 | 24.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 74,080 | 17.8% |
| Petrol | 229 | 12.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,788 | 15.4% |
| 2022 | 14,768 | 15.9% |
| 2023 | 14,913 | 17.5% |
| 2024 | 14,936 | 19.1% |
| 2025 | 14,906 | 21.0% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Freelander
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.8% 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 (6.7% 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 2011 Land Rover Freelanders pass their MOT?
82.2% of the 74,311 2011 Land Rover Freelander MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Land Rover Freelander?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by suspension (6.8%).
Does the 2011 Freelander get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.9% in the 0-30k band to 24.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 74,311 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.