2013 Land Rover Freelander — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Land Rover Freelander passed 83.1% of its 79,188 recorded MOT tests. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (20.3% fail rate), the 2013 Freelander comes out 3.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, steering and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.3%) and steering (5.5%) 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 and brake pads — track rod end alone was recorded 4,475 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.6% in the 0-30k band and 22.4% in the 150k+ band, a 15.8-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 20.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 5,816 |
| 2 | Steering | 5.5% | 4,323 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.0% | 3,947 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.0% | 3,172 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.0% | 2,354 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.2% | 1,734 |
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 | 4,475 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 4,363 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 2,613 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,673 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,640 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 1,383 |
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 | 20.2% | 16,016 |
| 2 | Tyres | 19.9% | 15,761 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.3% | 11,328 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.5% | 5,944 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.9% | 4,669 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.3% | 4,238 |
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 | 1,091 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 11,842 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 28,272 | 15.6% |
| 90-120k | 23,815 | 18.8% |
| 120-150k | 10,057 | 21.5% |
| 150k+ | 4,100 | 22.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,675 | 15.0% |
| 2022 | 15,796 | 15.8% |
| 2023 | 15,872 | 16.7% |
| 2024 | 15,928 | 17.9% |
| 2025 | 15,917 | 19.0% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Freelander
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Steering (5.5% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
- Suspension (5.0% 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 2013 Land Rover Freelanders pass their MOT?
83.1% of the 79,188 2013 Land Rover Freelander MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Land Rover Freelander?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.3% of tests, followed by steering (5.5%).
Does the 2013 Freelander get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.6% in the 0-30k band to 22.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 79,188 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.