1986 Land Rover Range Rover — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1986 Land Rover Range Rover passed 85.0% of its 321 recorded MOT tests. Against large SUVs of a similar age (23.0% fail rate), the 1986 Range Rover comes out 8.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.3%) and suspension (6.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, wipers and headlamp — shock absorbers alone was recorded 15 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.0% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 24.3% once past 150k.
Emissions & environmental is the most common advisory, noted on 25.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 30 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.5% | 21 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 20 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 17 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.3% | 17 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.0% | 16 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 15 |
| 2 | Wipers | 13 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 12 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 11 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 11 |
| 6 | Washers | 10 |
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% | 81 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.5% | 69 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.9% | 64 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.4% | 59 |
| 5 | Steering | 14.9% | 48 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 35 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 50 | 16.0% |
| 60-90k | 55 | 14.5% |
| 90-120k | 65 | 13.9% |
| 120-150k | 55 | 5.5% |
| 150k+ | 70 | 24.3% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 206 | 16.0% |
| Diesel | 115 | 13.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 69 | 11.6% |
| 2022 | 64 | 15.6% |
| 2023 | 63 | 9.5% |
| 2024 | 69 | 23.2% |
| 2025 | 56 | 14.3% |
What to check before buying a 1986 Range Rover
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.5% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.2% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1986 Land Rover Range Rovers pass their MOT?
85.0% of the 321 1986 Land Rover Range Rover MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1986 Land Rover Range Rover?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.3% of tests, followed by suspension (6.5%).
Does the 1986 Range Rover get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.0% in the 30-60k band to 24.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 321 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.