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Land rover DEFENDER - 1989

346.5 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1989 is 252.8 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Land rover DEFENDER, model year 1989. Sample size: 2,093 cars, 4,192 tests and 14,524 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 2,093 cars

The 1989 Land Rover Defender has a notably higher overall defect rate, with 346 defects per 100 vehicles, compared to the annual average of 249 per 100. It particularly shines in categories such as Steering, Visibility, and Equipment, where defect rates are significantly higher than the average. However, it also faces challenges, especially in Lights & Electrics and Body/Structure, where it has a higher rate of issues compared to other vehicles of the same year. Mileage-related trends indicate that defect rates increase with mileage, especially among lower mileage ranges. Overall, while the Defender stands out in some categories, its higher overall defect rate suggests potential concerns for prospective buyers.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 2,093 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
▲ 5.4% better
91.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 97.1 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
Steering
▼ 165.5% worse
69.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.1 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Steering box: leaking oil
  • 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.
Visibility
▼ 26.8% worse
27.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 22.0 / 100 tests
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
  • 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: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
Lights & Electrics
▼ 45.8% worse
89.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.4 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
  • 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
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 6.8% worse
176.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 165.6 / 100 tests
  • A shock absorber bush excessively worn
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
  • A wheel bearing: with excessive play
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
Body/Structure
▼ 43.4% worse
88.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.7 / 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
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
Equipment
▼ 198.4% worse
55.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 18.5 / 100 tests
  • A seat belt:
  • Audible warning:
  • 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
Other
▼ 76.5% worse
93.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 53.1 / 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
  • Emissions test unable to be completed
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 596 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: 1,739
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 570
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 553
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 542
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 483
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 477
A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 446
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 376
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 362
A seat belt:
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 300

Serious faults (Top 10)

Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 172
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: 166
A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 158
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 151
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 150
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 148
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 133
Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
FAIL
Occurrences: 131
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 124
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 118