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Land rover DEFENDER - 1990

347.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1990 is 257.0 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Land rover DEFENDER, model year 1990. Sample size: 1,790 cars, 3,527 tests and 12,238 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 1,790 cars

The 1990 Land Rover Defender has an overall defect rate of 347 defects per 100 vehicles, which is significantly higher than the average of 256 for cars of the same year, indicating a 35% increase in issues. Notably, this model shows a marked decline in performance as mileage increases, with defect rates rising sharply in higher mileage brackets. Specific areas of concern include steering and visibility, where the Defender's defect rates are notably higher than the average. Conversely, it performs better in categories such as lights and electrics and body structure, but the overall defect frequency suggests ongoing challenges in reliability compared to its peers.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 1,790 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
▲ 3.7% better
98.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 101.8 / 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
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
Steering
▼ 173.8% worse
70.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.6 / 100 tests
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
  • Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
Visibility
▼ 26.9% worse
26.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 21.2 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
Lights & Electrics
▼ 31.3% worse
77.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 58.7 / 100 tests
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half 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
  • 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
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 5.0% worse
185.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 177.0 / 100 tests
  • A wheel bearing: with excessive play
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • 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
Body/Structure
▼ 45.9% worse
90.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 62.3 / 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
▼ 233.1% worse
52.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 15.7 / 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
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
Other
▼ 79.5% worse
92.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 51.7 / 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 the manufacturer’s specified 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
0 507 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: 1,452
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 512
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 511
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 443
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 412
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 360
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 335
A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 334
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 301
A shock absorber bush excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 282

Serious faults (Top 10)

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 148
Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
FAIL
Occurrences: 120
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 117
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 116
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 112
A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
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: 102
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 101
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 95
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 83