2005 Land Rover Range Rover Sport — MOT failures & pass rate
22,147 MOT tests on the 2005 Land Rover Range Rover Sport are in this dataset, and 78.6% of them passed. Against large SUVs of a similar age (25.0% fail rate), the 2005 Range Rover Sport comes out 3.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.8% of tests against 8.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rigid brake pipes and pins and bushes — position lamp alone was recorded 1,316 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.8% in the 0-30k band and 23.1% in the 150k+ band, a 10.3-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 20.0% fail against 22.0% for diesel, a 2.1-point gap across 22,124 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 31.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 2,840 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.7% | 1,934 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.4% | 1,868 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 1,334 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.3% | 1,173 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 845 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 1,316 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,061 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 1,023 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 966 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 875 |
| 6 | Flexible brake hoses | 519 |
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 | 31.0% | 6,869 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.9% | 6,838 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.6% | 5,679 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.1% | 4,015 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 2,761 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.6% | 2,130 |
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 | 39 | 12.8% |
| 30-60k | 323 | 15.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,709 | 17.8% |
| 90-120k | 5,306 | 20.2% |
| 120-150k | 7,390 | 21.8% |
| 150k+ | 7,369 | 23.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 15,708 | 22.0% |
| Petrol | 6,416 | 20.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,407 | 20.9% |
| 2022 | 5,039 | 21.7% |
| 2023 | 4,517 | 21.7% |
| 2024 | 3,866 | 21.5% |
| 2025 | 3,318 | 21.5% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Range Rover Sport
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.7% 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 (8.4% 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 2005 Land Rover Range Rover Sports pass their MOT?
78.6% of the 22,147 2005 Land Rover Range Rover Sport MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Land Rover Range Rover Sport?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.8% of tests, followed by suspension (8.7%).
Does the 2005 Range Rover Sport get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.8% in the 0-30k band to 23.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,147 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.