2008 Land Rover Range Rover — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Land Rover Range Rover passed 79.4% of its 16,803 recorded MOT tests. Against large SUVs of a similar age (22.8% fail rate), the 2008 Range Rover comes out 2.1pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.8%) and brakes (8.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, pins and bushes and ball joint — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 1,199 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.6% in the 0-30k band and 22.6% in the 150k+ band, a 15.0-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 16.1% fail against 20.9% for diesel, a 4.8-point gap across 16,803 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 36.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.8% | 1,653 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.8% | 1,478 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 5.8% | 973 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 868 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.8% | 641 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.6% | 442 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,199 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 995 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 717 |
| 4 | Joints | 650 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 465 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 392 |
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 | 36.2% | 6,080 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.2% | 5,742 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.0% | 3,701 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.3% | 2,074 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.7% | 1,625 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.8% | 973 |
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 | 66 | 7.6% |
| 30-60k | 329 | 13.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,561 | 16.8% |
| 90-120k | 4,737 | 20.0% |
| 120-150k | 5,703 | 21.1% |
| 150k+ | 4,397 | 22.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 15,805 | 20.9% |
| Petrol | 998 | 16.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,885 | 20.2% |
| 2022 | 3,707 | 20.0% |
| 2023 | 3,387 | 20.7% |
| 2024 | 3,085 | 21.2% |
| 2025 | 2,739 | 21.4% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Range Rover
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 9.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (9.8% 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 (8.8% 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 (5.8% 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 2008 Land Rover Range Rovers pass their MOT?
79.4% of the 16,803 2008 Land Rover Range Rover MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Land Rover Range Rover?
Suspension, recorded in 9.8% of tests, followed by brakes (8.8%).
Does the 2008 Range Rover get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.6% in the 0-30k band to 22.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,803 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.