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Land rover DEFENDER - 1997

357.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1997 is 338.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Land rover DEFENDER, model year 1997. Sample size: 3,682 cars, 7,279 tests and 25,987 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 3,682 cars

The 1997 Land Rover Defender has an overall defect rate of 357 per 100 vehicles, which is 6.7% higher than the average car of the same year, which stands at 335 per 100. Notably, as mileage increases, the defect rate also rises, with the highest rates seen in vehicles over 124,000 miles. While the Defender performs better than average in the brakes category, with a significantly lower defect rate, it fares worse in steering, equipment, and other related issues. These findings suggest a model that excels in specific areas while facing challenges in others, particularly as it ages.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 3,682 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
▲ 26.4% better
103.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 141.1 / 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
  • Service brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
Steering
▼ 144.9% worse
67.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 27.4 / 100 tests
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
  • 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
Visibility
▼ 6.0% worse
26.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.2 / 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
▲ 2.6% better
63.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.5 / 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
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • 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
▲ 12.3% better
219.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 250.7 / 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
▲ 3.6% better
80.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 83.8 / 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
  • Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
Equipment
▼ 199.1% worse
66.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 22.1 / 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
▼ 40.7% worse
85.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.0 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Smoke opacity levels exceed default limit

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 535 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: 2,874
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,419
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,411
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,066
A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,004
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 994
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 780
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 754
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 668
A shock absorber bush excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 640

Serious faults (Top 10)

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 393
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 370
Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
FAIL
Occurrences: 233
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: 225
A shock absorber bush excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 220
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 212
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 209
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
FAIL
Occurrences: 208
A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 207
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 198