1984 Land Rover Range Rover — MOT failures & pass rate
258 MOT tests on the 1984 Land Rover Range Rover are in this dataset, and 81.8% of them passed. That is 3.5 percentage points better than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 21.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.6% of tests against 7.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are washers, headlamp aim and headlamp — washers alone was recorded 16 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1984 Range Rover fails 17.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 16.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.9 points.
Emissions & environmental is the most common advisory, noted on 25.2% 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 | 11.6% | 30 |
| 2 | Visibility | 7.0% | 18 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.8% | 15 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.0% | 13 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 11 |
| 6 | Brakes | 3.9% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washers | 16 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 14 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 9 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 8 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 7 |
| 6 | Non catalyst emissions | 7 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 25.2% | 65 |
| 2 | Steering | 14.0% | 36 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.2% | 34 |
| 4 | Brakes | 12.8% | 33 |
| 5 | Tyres | 8.5% | 22 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 21 |
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 | 35 | 17.1% |
| 30-60k | 35 | 25.7% |
| 60-90k | 64 | 12.5% |
| 90-120k | 57 | 21.1% |
| 150k+ | 43 | 16.3% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 187 | 16.6% |
| Diesel | 71 | 22.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 61 | 16.4% |
| 2022 | 62 | 17.7% |
| 2023 | 53 | 26.4% |
| 2024 | 49 | 14.3% |
| 2025 | 33 | 15.2% |
What to check before buying a 1984 Range Rover
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (7.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Suspension (5.8% 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 1984 Land Rover Range Rovers pass their MOT?
81.8% of the 258 1984 Land Rover Range Rover MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1984 Land Rover Range Rover?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.6% of tests, followed by visibility (7.0%).
Does the 1984 Range Rover get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.1% in the 0-30k band to 16.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 258 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.