2003 Land Rover Range Rover — MOT failures & pass rate
16,860 MOT tests on the 2003 Land Rover Range Rover are in this dataset, and 74.8% of them passed. Large SUVs of a similar age fail at 25.4%, so the 2003 Range Rover sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (14.7%) and brakes (13.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, rigid brake pipes and ball joint — pins and bushes alone was recorded 1,499 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2003 Range Rover fails 28.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 25.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.9 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 24.7% of the time against 25.4% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.2% in 2021 to 22.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.7% | 2,481 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.1% | 2,215 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 1,431 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.4% | 1,256 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.9% | 660 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.6% | 613 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 1,499 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,257 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 989 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 655 |
| 5 | Decelerometer (sp) | 615 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 547 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 39.4% | 6,643 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.9% | 6,048 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.2% | 3,746 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.2% | 3,576 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.8% | 2,833 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 1,331 |
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 | 458 | 28.4% |
| 30-60k | 234 | 15.4% |
| 60-90k | 990 | 20.0% |
| 90-120k | 2,931 | 23.8% |
| 120-150k | 4,696 | 25.4% |
| 150k+ | 6,366 | 25.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 11,572 | 25.4% |
| Petrol | 5,259 | 24.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,081 | 26.2% |
| 2022 | 4,236 | 26.0% |
| 2023 | 3,270 | 24.6% |
| 2024 | 2,432 | 25.0% |
| 2025 | 1,841 | 22.1% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Range Rover
On a 2003 Range Rover, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (14.7% 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.
- Brakes (13.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (8.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2003 Land Rover Range Rovers pass their MOT?
74.8% of the 16,860 2003 Land Rover Range Rover MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Land Rover Range Rover?
Suspension, recorded in 14.7% of tests, followed by brakes (13.1%).
Does the 2003 Range Rover get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.4% in the 0-30k band to 25.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,860 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.