1991 Land Rover Range Rover — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1991 Land Rover Range Rover passed 83.2% of its 1,097 recorded MOT tests. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 23.6% of the time, so this is 6.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.6% of tests against 7.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are prescribed areas, headlamp aim and chassis condition — prescribed areas alone was recorded 49 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1991 Range Rover fails 13.3% of the time in the 30-60k band and 15.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.8 points.
Emissions & environmental is the most common advisory, noted on 22.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 17.9% in 2021 to 12.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 116 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.2% | 79 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.2% | 57 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.8% | 53 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 47 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.2% | 35 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prescribed areas | 49 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 47 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 41 |
| 4 | Washers | 33 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 32 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 28 |
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 | 22.0% | 241 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.2% | 222 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.5% | 192 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.2% | 178 |
| 5 | Steering | 13.3% | 146 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.8% | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 60 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 152 | 19.1% |
| 90-120k | 301 | 18.6% |
| 120-150k | 292 | 16.1% |
| 150k+ | 265 | 15.1% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 901 | 17.4% |
| Diesel | 194 | 13.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 235 | 17.9% |
| 2022 | 228 | 18.0% |
| 2023 | 221 | 17.6% |
| 2024 | 216 | 17.6% |
| 2025 | 197 | 12.2% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Range Rover
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.2% 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+.
- Suspension (5.2% 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 1991 Land Rover Range Rovers pass their MOT?
83.2% of the 1,097 1991 Land Rover Range Rover MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Land Rover Range Rover?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.6% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (7.2%).
Does the 1991 Range Rover get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 30-60k band to 15.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,097 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.