2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport — MOT failures & pass rate
36,077 MOT tests on the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport are in this dataset, and 84.0% of them passed. Against large SUVs of a similar age (17.8% fail rate), the 2012 Range Rover Sport comes out 1.7pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (6.3%) and tyres (5.8%) 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 brake pads — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 1,581 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 19.4% once past 150k — 2.3× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 11.4% fail against 16.1% for diesel, a 4.8-point gap across 36,077 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 26.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 6.3% | 2,271 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.8% | 2,087 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.7% | 1,710 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 1,267 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.7% | 622 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 489 |
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 | 1,581 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 1,539 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 836 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 573 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 539 |
| 6 | Flexible brake hoses | 436 |
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 | 26.6% | 9,602 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.0% | 8,663 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.9% | 7,182 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.4% | 2,674 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 2,027 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 1,776 |
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 | 241 | 8.3% |
| 30-60k | 3,362 | 11.5% |
| 60-90k | 12,923 | 15.0% |
| 90-120k | 13,042 | 17.3% |
| 120-150k | 5,051 | 18.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,449 | 19.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 35,383 | 16.1% |
| Petrol | 694 | 11.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,690 | 15.4% |
| 2022 | 7,626 | 16.1% |
| 2023 | 7,320 | 16.1% |
| 2024 | 6,920 | 16.2% |
| 2025 | 6,521 | 16.6% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Range Rover Sport
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 6.3% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (6.3% 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.
- Tyres (5.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Suspension (4.7% 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.
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 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sports pass their MOT?
84.0% of the 36,077 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport?
Brakes, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by tyres (5.8%).
Does the 2012 Range Rover Sport get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.3% in the 0-30k band to 19.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 36,077 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.