2003 Land Rover Defender · 14,718 MOT tests
2003 Land Rover Defender reliability
2003 Land Rover Defenders fail 35.7% of first MOT tests, 19% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, ranking 9 of 23 Defender years (14,718 DVSA tests, 2022 to 2024).
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- first-time fail rate (all Land Rover Defenders: 28.8%)
- 35.7%
- first-time fail rate (all Land Rover Defenders: 28.8%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 19% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- typical miles at its MOT, aged about 20
- 120,648
- typical miles at its MOT, aged about 20
- MOT tests, 2022 to 2024
- 14,718
- MOT tests, 2022 to 2024
Year on year
2003 against the years either side
- 2002 cars: 20% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age (the 2003 car does worse)
- 2004 cars: 23% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age (the 2003 car does worse)
- Weak spot: steering, 10.4% of tests fail here (116% above cars of the same age and mileage).
- Strong point: tyres, 68% fewer fails than comparable cars.
- Plates: a 2003 car carries a 52 plate (January–February 2003), or a 03 plate (March–August 2003), or a 53 plate (September–December 2003).
Common problems
What fails on a 2003 Land Rover Defender
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics17.5%
- Suspension11.2%
- Brakes10.6%
- Steering10.4%
- Body, chassis and structure9.4%
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors8.2%
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks3.9%
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top failures
Position lamp not working 3.44%
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
Shock absorber bush excessively worn 3.13%
Worn shock absorber bushes cause knocking and poor ride control, and they tend to worsen, so they need replacing.
Stop lamp not working 2.82%
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
Rear fog lamp not working 2.53%
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.51%
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 2.38%
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
Common advisories
Engine oil leak, not excessive (17.86%) · Brake pipes corroded and greasy (14.55%) · Brake disc pitted or scored (7.19%) · Shock absorber bush slightly worn (6.76%) · Wheel bearing slight play (6.43%) · Seat belt webbing slightly frayed (5.95%)
Other years
Every Land Rover Defender year
The full picture: Land Rover Defender reliability. Before you pay for any Land Rover Defender, a Full Check (£9.99) shows finance, stolen and write-off records the MOT can't.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 normal tests.
Is a 2003 Land Rover Defender reliable?
2003 Land Rover Defenders fail 35.7% of first MOT tests, 19% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, ranking 9 of 23 Defender years (14,718 DVSA tests, 2022 to 2024).
What fails on a 2003 Land Rover Defender MOT?
Most often position lamp not working (3.44% of tests), shock absorber bush excessively worn (3.13% of tests), stop lamp not working (2.82% of tests).
How many miles should a 2003 Land Rover Defender have done?
At its MOT aged about 20, a typical 2003 Land Rover Defender shows 120,648 miles. Much higher or lower is worth asking about.
What plate is a 2003 car?
A car first registered in 2003 carries a 52 plate (January–February 2003), or a 03 plate (March–August 2003), or a 53 plate (September–December 2003).
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