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Land rover DEFENDER - 1983

217.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1983 is 180.1 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Land rover DEFENDER, model year 1983. Sample size: 151 cars, 253 tests and 549 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 151 cars

The 1983 Land Rover Defender has an overall defect rate of 217 per 100 vehicles, which is 20.5% higher than the yearly average of 180 defects per 100 vehicles. Notably, this model exhibits significant challenges in the categories of steering and equipment, with defect rates of 52% and 36% respectively, both considerably above the year averages. Additionally, higher mileage vehicles (over 124,000 miles) show a marked increase in defect rates for this model, reaching 386 defects per 100. Overall, while tyre wear is a common issue, the Defender's specific concerns primarily lie in steering and equipment reliability, suggesting areas for potential improvement.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 151 cars

More model years for Land rover DEFENDER

1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2020 2021 2022 2023

Other models from Land rover

Land rover 88 Land rover DEFENDER Land rover DISCOVERY Land rover FREELANDER Land rover RANGE ROVER

Categories

Brakes
▼ 6.5% worse
67.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 63.1 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
  • The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any braking system actuation component mounting (a prescribed area): is significantly reduced (see Appendix A)
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
Steering
▼ 210.7% worse
52.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 16.8 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • Steering box: leaking oil
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
Visibility
▼ 13.8% worse
19.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 16.7 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Wiper not operating or missing
Lights & Electrics
▲ 11.2% better
41.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 46.3 / 100 tests
  • A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
  • An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
  • Lamp: emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 2.5% better
109.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 112.7 / 100 tests
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A shock absorber bush excessively worn
  • A wheel bearing: with excessive play
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
Body/Structure
▲ 10.4% better
37.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 42.3 / 100 tests
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • A transmission: joint, belt or chain excessively worn
  • Body or cab mounting: fixings missing or insecure such that overall security is significantly reduced
Equipment
▼ 194.2% worse
35.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 12.1 / 100 tests
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
  • Audible warning:
  • A seat belt:
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
Other
▼ 41.6% worse
71.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 50.2 / 100 tests
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour of any colour to an extent likely to obscure the vision of other road users
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 428 0–31,000 mi 31,000–62,000 62,000–93,000 93,000–124,000 124,000+
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.

Most common faults (Top 10)

Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 81
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 39
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 30
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 26
A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 18
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 18
A shock absorber bush excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 16
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 16
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 16
A seat belt:
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 13

Serious faults (Top 10)

A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 10
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 9
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 8
An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 7
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 7
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 6
Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
FAIL
Occurrences: 4
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
FAIL
Occurrences: 4
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 4
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 3