2008 Land Rover Range Rover Sport — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 28,166 MOT tests, the 2008 Land Rover Range Rover Sport recorded a 79.0% pass rate. Against large SUVs of a similar age (22.7% fail rate), the 2008 Range Rover Sport comes out 1.7pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.8% of all tests — 3.3 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rigid brake pipes and pins and bushes — position lamp alone was recorded 1,523 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.0% versus 16.9%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 20.0% of the time against 21.1% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 30.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 3,317 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.5% | 2,390 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.8% | 2,203 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.0% | 1,699 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.9% | 1,371 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.2% | 905 |
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 | 1,523 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,284 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 1,220 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 986 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 925 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 805 |
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 | 30.5% | 8,598 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.6% | 7,491 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.4% | 7,148 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.1% | 3,983 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.9% | 3,077 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.9% | 2,226 |
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 | 89 | 16.9% |
| 30-60k | 705 | 14.8% |
| 60-90k | 3,578 | 19.1% |
| 90-120k | 9,649 | 21.3% |
| 120-150k | 9,203 | 21.5% |
| 150k+ | 4,926 | 22.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 27,276 | 21.1% |
| Petrol | 884 | 20.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,659 | 21.1% |
| 2022 | 6,337 | 20.9% |
| 2023 | 5,758 | 21.0% |
| 2024 | 5,076 | 21.5% |
| 2025 | 4,336 | 20.8% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Range Rover Sport
On a 2008 Range Rover Sport, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.5% 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.
- Suspension (7.8% 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.
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 2008 Land Rover Range Rover Sports pass their MOT?
79.0% of the 28,166 2008 Land Rover Range Rover Sport MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Land Rover Range Rover Sport?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.8% of tests, followed by brakes (8.5%).
Does the 2008 Range Rover Sport get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.9% in the 0-30k band to 22.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,166 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.