Land Rover Defender

Reliability, estimated running costs, and MOT data across 29 model years from 203,426 MOT tests in 2024.

Avg Pass Rate

80%

Total Tests

203,426

Highest Pass Rate

2021 (97%)

Years Covered

About the Land Rover Defender

The Land Rover Defender was MOT tested 203,426 times in 2024 (DVSA data, retests included) across 29 model years (1990 to 2021), with an average pass rate of 80%. That's close to the average of 82% across all models in our data. Our records list diesel and lpg and hybrid versions.

Best and Worst Years

Of the years with at least 100 tests, the 2021 model has the highest pass rate at 97% from 180 tests. The 1992 model has the lowest at 74%. With a 23 point gap, the year you choose makes a real difference. Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger.

Reliability Trend

Newer Land Rover Defenders pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 9 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.

Mileage Across Years

The oldest model in our data (1990) averages 142,154 miles, while the newest (2021) averages 42,929 miles. Older models have covered serious mileage, so suspension and drivetrain wear are worth checking.

Compared to the Land Rover brand average of 90%, the Defender is 10 points lower, placing it among the less reliable Land Rover models.

Estimated Running Costs

Fuel (Hybrid, 3000cc)

£1,958

Road Tax

£200

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

£200

Total per year£2,413

Per month£201/mo

Based on 7,400 miles/year, average pump prices of 174.57p petrol and 199.33p diesel (GOV.UK weekly road fuel prices, week of 19 October 2026), and MOT pass rate data. Insurance not included.

Full 2021 details

How reliable is the Land Rover Defender?

vs average of all models-2% (82% avg)

vs Land Rover brand average-10% (90% avg)

Best to worst year spread23 percentage points

Reliability trendImproving over years

Land Rover Defender by Year

Click any year to see detailed running costs, reliability data, and comparisons with similar cars.

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2021	97%	180	42,929 mi
2020	97%	156	35,400 mi
2016	91%	3,316	35,776 mi
2015	89%	12,411	48,785 mi
2014	87%	10,525	59,995 mi
2013	84%	8,186	66,606 mi
2012	83%	7,139	71,959 mi
2011	81%	7,345	82,891 mi
2010	80%	7,290	85,020 mi
2009	79%	6,584	90,754 mi
2008	81%	7,024	98,525 mi
2007	79%	7,656	101,926 mi
2006	78%	6,868	109,686 mi
2005	77%	7,581	112,742 mi
2004	77%	7,976	120,020 mi
2003	77%	8,035	129,000 mi
2002	77%	6,870	132,092 mi
2001	75%	5,673	131,257 mi
2000	75%	5,304	134,243 mi
1999	75%	8,887	140,417 mi
1998	76%	10,516	136,993 mi
1997	76%	10,084	146,489 mi
1996	74%	10,767	153,542 mi
1995	74%	9,229	143,046 mi
1994	74%	7,092	141,555 mi
1993	76%	5,910	137,101 mi
1992	74%	4,530	143,915 mi
1991	76%	5,265	141,354 mi
1990	75%	5,027	142,154 mi

Questions about the Land Rover Defender

Is the Land Rover Defender reliable?

Across its 29 model years in our data (1990 to 2021), the Land Rover Defender averages an 80% MOT pass rate, from 203,426 tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That's 2 points below the average of 82% across all models in the same data. The 2021 model has the highest pass rate of the years with at least 100 tests, at 97%.

Which year Land Rover Defender has the best MOT pass rate?

Of the years with at least 100 tests, the 2021 Land Rover Defender has the highest MOT pass rate at 97%, while the 1992 model has the lowest at 74%, a 23 point gap. Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger, so compare years of a similar age.