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Land rover DEFENDER - 2021

47.8 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2021 is 80.0 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Land rover DEFENDER, model year 2021. Sample size: 11,145 cars, 29,640 tests and 14,173 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 11,145 cars

The 2021 Land Rover Defender exhibits a notably lower overall defect rate, with 48 defects per 100 vehicles compared to the average of 79 per 100 for vehicles of the same year, marking a 39% improvement. This model performs particularly well in categories such as brakes and steering, where it has significantly fewer defects than average. Additionally, it shows lower rates in visibility, lights and electrics, and body structure defects, highlighting its reliability in these areas. However, the Defender does show a higher incidence of defects as mileage increases, particularly beyond 124,000 miles.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 11,145 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
▲ 33.0% better
26.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 40.0 / 100 tests
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
  • Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
Steering
▲ 57.1% better
0.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 0.7 / 100 tests
  • Attachment of steering column: defective
  • Excessive wear or play in a universal joint or a flexible coupling excessively deteriorated
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • A steering linkage component: fractured or deformed
Visibility
▲ 35.2% better
9.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 14.5 / 100 tests
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • 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
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 55.4% better
5.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 11.2 / 100 tests
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • Headlamp cleaning device: inoperative in the case of LED or gas discharge systems (HID)
  • 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
  • Headlamp cleaning device: inoperative in the case of LED or gas discharge systems (HID)
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 41.9% better
50.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 87.3 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
  • A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
Body/Structure
▲ 85.7% better
0.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.1 / 100 tests
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • A body panel or body component: damaged or corroded and likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted, or insecure
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
Equipment
▲ 6.7% better
1.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 1.5 / 100 tests
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • A seat belt:
Other
▲ 40.7% better
1.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.7 / 100 tests
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 268 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)

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 4,696
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,804
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,662
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
MINOR
Occurrences: 936
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 818
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 723
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 486
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
PRS
Occurrences: 323
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 222
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 212

Serious faults (Top 10)

A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 486
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 222
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 212
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 135
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 92
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 82
Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 76
An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 73
Tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously not working
FAIL
Occurrences: 37
Headlamp cleaning device: inoperative in the case of LED or gas discharge systems (HID)
FAIL
Occurrences: 37