2009 Land Rover Range Rover Sport — MOT failures & pass rate
28,399 MOT tests on the 2009 Land Rover Range Rover Sport are in this dataset, and 80.2% of them passed. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 21.6% of the time, so this is 1.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (8.2%) and lighting & signalling (8.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, pins and bushes and position lamp — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 1,458 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.1% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 16.1% fail against 19.9% for diesel, a 3.9-point gap across 28,399 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 29.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 8.2% | 2,330 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 2,291 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.4% | 2,110 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.6% | 1,600 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 1,243 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 732 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,458 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 1,330 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 849 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 745 |
| 5 | Wheel bearings | 733 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 691 |
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 | 29.8% | 8,473 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.7% | 7,303 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.8% | 7,039 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.2% | 3,469 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.4% | 2,965 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.1% | 2,582 |
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 | 74 | 9.5% |
| 30-60k | 960 | 15.2% |
| 60-90k | 5,212 | 18.5% |
| 90-120k | 10,804 | 20.1% |
| 120-150k | 7,945 | 20.3% |
| 150k+ | 3,387 | 21.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 27,421 | 19.9% |
| Petrol | 978 | 16.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,553 | 19.4% |
| 2022 | 6,208 | 18.6% |
| 2023 | 5,821 | 19.9% |
| 2024 | 5,222 | 20.6% |
| 2025 | 4,595 | 20.7% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Range Rover Sport
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 8.2% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (8.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (8.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.4% 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 2009 Land Rover Range Rover Sports pass their MOT?
80.2% of the 28,399 2009 Land Rover Range Rover Sport MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Land Rover Range Rover Sport?
Brakes, recorded in 8.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.1%).
Does the 2009 Range Rover Sport get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.5% in the 0-30k band to 21.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,399 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.