2015 Land Rover Freelander — MOT failures & pass rate
287 MOT tests on the 2015 Land Rover Freelander are in this dataset, and 86.4% of them passed. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 15.2% of the time, so this is 1.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and steering.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.0%) and brakes (6.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, track rod end and brake pads — headlamp alone was recorded 10 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2015 Freelander fails 11.5% of the time in the 30-60k band and 11.6% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.1 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 18.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 16.5% in 2021 to 14.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.0% | 23 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.6% | 19 |
| 3 | Steering | 3.5% | 10 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.1% | 9 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.8% | 8 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.1% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 10 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 9 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 8 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 7 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 7 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 6 |
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 | 18.8% | 54 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.1% | 49 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.8% | 34 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 16 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.9% | 14 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.4% | 7 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 104 | 11.5% |
| 60-90k | 85 | 11.8% |
| 90-120k | 43 | 11.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 85 | 16.5% |
| 2022 | 54 | 13.0% |
| 2023 | 46 | 6.5% |
| 2024 | 53 | 15.1% |
| 2025 | 49 | 14.3% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Freelander
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.6% 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.
- Steering (3.5% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
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 2015 Land Rover Freelanders pass their MOT?
86.4% of the 287 2015 Land Rover Freelander MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Land Rover Freelander?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.0% of tests, followed by brakes (6.6%).
Does the 2015 Freelander get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.5% in the 30-60k band to 11.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 287 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.