1989 Land Rover Range Rover — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 854 MOT tests, the 1989 Land Rover Range Rover recorded an 83.5% pass rate. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 23.6% of the time, so this is 7.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.8%) and body, structure & corrosion (7.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are integral vehicle structure condition, headlamp aim and wipers — integral vehicle structure condition alone was recorded 37 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.0% in the 0-30k band and 20.3% in the 150k+ band, a 7.3-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: emissions & environmental was flagged on 22.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 18.0% in 2021 to 14.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.8% | 84 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 62 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.5% | 47 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.0% | 43 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 38 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.9% | 33 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 37 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 31 |
| 3 | Wipers | 29 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 29 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 25 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 25 |
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 | 22.1% | 189 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.5% | 175 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.0% | 162 |
| 4 | Brakes | 18.9% | 161 |
| 5 | Steering | 13.6% | 116 |
| 6 | Tyres | 8.8% | 75 |
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 | 77 | 13.0% |
| 30-60k | 95 | 15.8% |
| 60-90k | 196 | 18.4% |
| 90-120k | 173 | 9.8% |
| 120-150k | 152 | 20.4% |
| 150k+ | 158 | 20.3% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 696 | 16.7% |
| Diesel | 158 | 15.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 178 | 18.0% |
| 2022 | 176 | 15.9% |
| 2023 | 176 | 17.6% |
| 2024 | 163 | 16.0% |
| 2025 | 161 | 14.9% |
What to check before buying a 1989 Range Rover
On a 1989 Range Rover, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.3% 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+.
- Brakes (5.5% 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.
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 1989 Land Rover Range Rovers pass their MOT?
83.5% of the 854 1989 Land Rover Range Rover MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1989 Land Rover Range Rover?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.8% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (7.3%).
Does the 1989 Range Rover get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.0% in the 0-30k band to 20.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 854 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.