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Land rover DEFENDER - 1987

324.8 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1987 is 238.3 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Land rover DEFENDER, model year 1987. Sample size: 1,776 cars, 3,325 tests and 10,799 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 1,776 cars

The 1987 Land Rover Defender has an overall defect rate of 325 defects per 100 vehicles, which is significantly higher than the average of 234 defects per 100 for similar vehicles, representing a 39% increase. Notably, the Defender exhibits a concerning trend with increasing mileage; defect rates rise sharply with higher mileage brackets. Key areas of concern include steering and visibility, where the Defender's rates are more than double the average, as well as notably high issues with lights and electrics. While tyre wear is a common issue across all vehicles, the Defender's performance in categories like equipment and body structure also indicates a need for attention compared to its peers.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 1,776 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
▼ 13.7% worse
99.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 87.7 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
Steering
▼ 133.0% worse
67.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.1 / 100 tests
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
Visibility
▼ 26.1% worse
25.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 20.3 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
  • Wiper blade: defective
Lights & Electrics
▼ 31.8% worse
82.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 62.8 / 100 tests
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
  • A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
  • 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
▼ 16.7% worse
173.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 148.8 / 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
▼ 30.4% worse
70.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 53.7 / 100 tests
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • A transmission: joint, belt or chain excessively worn
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
Equipment
▼ 100.0% worse
41.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 20.9 / 100 tests
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • 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:
  • Audible warning:
Other
▼ 66.2% worse
88.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 53.0 / 100 tests
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Emissions test unable to be completed
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour of any colour to an extent likely to obscure the vision of other road users

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 505 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: 1,308
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 539
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 512
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 419
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 415
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 332
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 259
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 259
A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 246
A shock absorber bush excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 223

Serious faults (Top 10)

Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 145
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 133
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 118
A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 111
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 111
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: 107
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 103
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 87
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 87
Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
FAIL
Occurrences: 84