Skip to main content

Land rover DEFENDER - 1996

369.6 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1996 is 337.1 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Land rover DEFENDER, model year 1996. Sample size: 3,737 cars, 7,726 tests and 28,552 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 3,737 cars

The 1996 Land Rover Defender has an overall defect rate of 370 per 100 vehicles, which is 12% higher than the average car of the same year, which stands at 330 per 100. Notably, as mileage increases, the defect rate for the Defender also rises, with the highest rate seen in vehicles over 124,000 miles. In terms of specific categories, the Defender performs better in brakes compared to the average, but significantly worse in steering, equipment, and other defects. These findings suggest that while the Defender excels in braking, it may require more attention in areas like steering and equipment reliability as it ages.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 3,737 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
▲ 21.2% better
107.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 136.6 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Service brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
Steering
▼ 127.3% worse
70.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 30.8 / 100 tests
  • 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.
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
Visibility
▼ 5.1% worse
29.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 27.6 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
Lights & Electrics
▼ 4.2% worse
69.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 66.2 / 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
  • 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 direction indicator: lamp missing, 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
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 7.7% better
216.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 234.4 / 100 tests
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A wheel bearing: with excessive play
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
  • A shock absorber bush excessively worn
Body/Structure
▲ 1.3% better
85.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 86.6 / 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
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
Equipment
▼ 166.5% worse
69.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.0 / 100 tests
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
  • Audible warning:
  • A seat belt:
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
Other
▼ 40.1% worse
92.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.9 / 100 tests
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to 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 test unable to be completed
  • 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
0 536 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: 3,291
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,537
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,399
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,223
A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,052
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,013
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 875
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 821
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 719
A shock absorber bush excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 694

Serious faults (Top 10)

Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 408
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 389
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 297
Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
FAIL
Occurrences: 267
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: 250
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 249
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 242
A shock absorber bush excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 225
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 225
A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 219