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Land rover DEFENDER - 1988

351.1 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1988 is 253.5 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Land rover DEFENDER, model year 1988. Sample size: 1,640 cars, 3,241 tests and 11,380 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 1,640 cars

The 1988 Land Rover Defender has a significantly higher overall defect rate compared to the average car of the same year, recording 351 defects per 100 vehicles against the average of 249. The model exhibits particular weaknesses in steering and visibility, with defect rates of 76% and 31% respectively, both notably worse than the averages. Additionally, issues related to lights and electrics, as well as body and structure, also stand out negatively. In terms of mileage trends, the defect rate increases notably with higher mileage, especially in the 62,000 to 124,000-mile category, highlighting potential concerns for older vehicles. Overall, while tyre wear is common, the Defender's unique issues primarily lie in specific mechanical and electrical categories.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 1,640 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
▲ 0.5% better
94.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 95.2 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brakes imbalance across an axle such that: the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. Or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight lin
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
Steering
▼ 169.6% worse
75.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 28.0 / 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
▼ 44.4% worse
30.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 21.4 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
Lights & Electrics
▼ 51.6% worse
97.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 64.3 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • 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
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 7.4% worse
173.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 161.2 / 100 tests
  • A wheel bearing: with excessive play
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
  • A shock absorber bush excessively worn
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
Body/Structure
▼ 34.5% worse
86.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 64.0 / 100 tests
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • 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
▼ 165.4% worse
49.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 18.5 / 100 tests
  • A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
  • Audible warning:
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • A seat belt:
  • 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
Other
▼ 75.3% worse
95.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 54.3 / 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
  • Smoke opacity levels exceed default limit
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 512 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: 1,398
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 499
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 498
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 432
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 326
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 307
A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 264
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 246
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 218
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 215

Serious faults (Top 10)

Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 163
A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 157
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 140
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 131
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: 128
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 118
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 98
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 88
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 87