1994 Land Rover Range Rover — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,311 MOT tests, the 1994 Land Rover Range Rover recorded a 79.9% pass rate. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 23.7% of the time, so this is 3.6pp 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 (11.1%) and body, structure & corrosion (8.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, integral vehicle structure condition and prescribed areas — headlamp aim alone was recorded 120 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.2% versus 15.6%.
Split by fuel, petrol examples fail 1.8pp more often than diesel ones (20.7% vs 18.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: emissions & environmental was flagged on 32.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.4% in 2021 to 18.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 256 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 199 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.6% | 175 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.2% | 143 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 110 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.5% | 103 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 120 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 106 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 102 |
| 4 | Chassis condition | 93 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 93 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 76 |
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 | 32.0% | 739 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.3% | 538 |
| 3 | Suspension | 22.5% | 520 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.1% | 371 |
| 5 | Steering | 10.2% | 235 |
| 6 | Tyres | 10.0% | 230 |
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 | 45 | 15.6% |
| 30-60k | 70 | 8.6% |
| 60-90k | 210 | 19.1% |
| 90-120k | 470 | 18.7% |
| 120-150k | 601 | 20.1% |
| 150k+ | 909 | 22.2% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,309 | 20.7% |
| Diesel | 993 | 18.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 528 | 21.4% |
| 2022 | 503 | 20.1% |
| 2023 | 465 | 19.6% |
| 2024 | 416 | 20.7% |
| 2025 | 399 | 18.3% |
What to check before buying a 1994 Range Rover
On a 1994 Range Rover, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.6% 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 (7.6% 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 1994 Land Rover Range Rovers pass their MOT?
79.9% of the 2,311 1994 Land Rover Range Rover MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1994 Land Rover Range Rover?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.1% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (8.6%).
Does the 1994 Range Rover get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.6% in the 0-30k band to 22.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,311 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.