1990 Land Rover Range Rover — MOT failures & pass rate
978 MOT tests on the 1990 Land Rover Range Rover are in this dataset, and 81.8% of them passed. That is 5.4 percentage points better than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 23.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.9%) and body, structure & corrosion (8.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are chassis condition, integral vehicle structure condition and headlamp aim — chassis condition alone was recorded 41 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.9% in the 0-30k band and 20.8% in the 150k+ band, a 6.9-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: emissions & environmental was flagged on 22.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 19.9% in 2021 to 18.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 97 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 83 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.2% | 61 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.7% | 46 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 46 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 40 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chassis condition | 41 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 35 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 35 |
| 4 | Washers | 33 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 32 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 26 |
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 | 22.3% | 218 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.3% | 199 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.2% | 188 |
| 4 | Brakes | 17.9% | 175 |
| 5 | Steering | 13.4% | 131 |
| 6 | Tyres | 8.1% | 79 |
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 | 36 | 13.9% |
| 30-60k | 60 | 15.0% |
| 60-90k | 140 | 14.3% |
| 90-120k | 217 | 17.5% |
| 120-150k | 274 | 19.3% |
| 150k+ | 250 | 20.8% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 795 | 18.7% |
| Diesel | 180 | 16.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 216 | 19.9% |
| 2022 | 197 | 16.8% |
| 2023 | 211 | 21.8% |
| 2024 | 169 | 13.0% |
| 2025 | 185 | 18.4% |
What to check before buying a 1990 Range Rover
On a 1990 Range Rover, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.5% 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 (6.2% 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.
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 1990 Land Rover Range Rovers pass their MOT?
81.8% of the 978 1990 Land Rover Range Rover MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1990 Land Rover Range Rover?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.9% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (8.5%).
Does the 1990 Range Rover get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.9% in the 0-30k band to 20.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 978 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.