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Land rover DEFENDER - 1986

316.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1986 is 241.8 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Land rover DEFENDER, model year 1986. Sample size: 1,846 cars, 3,369 tests and 10,646 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 1,846 cars

The 1986 Land Rover Defender has a higher overall defect rate of 316 defects per 100 vehicles compared to the yearly average of 240 defects. This model shows a significant increase in defects with mileage, particularly in the 93,000 to 124,000 miles category, where it reaches 483 defects per 100 vehicles. Key areas of concern include steering, lights and electrics, and body structure, where the Defender performs notably worse than average, with defect rates significantly higher than typical for its year. Despite these issues, there are no standout positive categories for this model, indicating a need for attention in its maintenance and reliability.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 1,846 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
▲ 3.4% better
85.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 88.2 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
Steering
▼ 121.7% worse
66.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 30.0 / 100 tests
  • 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 rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
Visibility
▼ 6.4% worse
23.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 21.8 / 100 tests
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • 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
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
Lights & Electrics
▼ 37.0% worse
82.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 60.2 / 100 tests
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
  • A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
  • A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
  • 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
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 9.5% worse
172.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 157.4 / 100 tests
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
  • A shock absorber bush excessively worn
  • A wheel bearing: with excessive play
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
Body/Structure
▼ 40.4% worse
76.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 54.7 / 100 tests
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
  • A transmission: joint, belt or chain excessively worn
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
Equipment
▼ 97.6% worse
33.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 16.9 / 100 tests
  • A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
  • is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • Audible warning:
  • A seat belt:
Other
▼ 70.2% worse
92.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 54.1 / 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
  • Smoke opacity levels exceed default limit

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 483 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: 1,365
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 506
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 430
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 420
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 407
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 330
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 255
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 246
A shock absorber bush excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 232
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 227

Serious faults (Top 10)

Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 147
A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 138
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 129
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: 118
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 114
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 106
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 102
Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
FAIL
Occurrences: 96
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 88
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 77