2004 Land Rover Defender · 14,329 MOT tests
2004 Land Rover Defender reliability
2004 Land Rover Defenders fail 34% of first MOT tests, 23% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, ranking 4 of 23 Defender years (14,329 DVSA tests, 2022 to 2024).
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- first-time fail rate (all Land Rover Defenders: 28.8%)
- 34%
- first-time fail rate (all Land Rover Defenders: 28.8%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 23% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- typical miles at its MOT, aged about 19
- 112,686
- typical miles at its MOT, aged about 19
- MOT tests, 2022 to 2024
- 14,329
- MOT tests, 2022 to 2024
Year on year
2004 against the years either side
- 2003 cars: 19% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age (the 2004 car does better)
- 2005 cars: 21% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age (the 2004 car does better)
- Weak spot: steering, 9.4% of tests fail here (109% above cars of the same age and mileage).
- Strong point: tyres, 73% fewer fails than comparable cars.
- Plates: a 2004 car carries a 53 plate (January–February 2004), or a 04 plate (March–August 2004), or a 54 plate (September–December 2004).
Common problems
What fails on a 2004 Land Rover Defender
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics16.8%
- Suspension11.6%
- Brakes10.5%
- Steering9.4%
- Body, chassis and structure7.9%
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors7.7%
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks3.7%
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top failures
Position lamp not working 2.99%
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 2.97%
Worn shock absorber bushes cause knocking and poor ride control, and they tend to worsen, so they need replacing.
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.
Stop lamp not working 2.52%
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 2.25%
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
Windscreen washer fluid insufficient 2.24%
Washers are not supplying enough liquid, so the windscreen cannot be cleared properly, which is a safety issue.
Common advisories
Engine oil leak, not excessive (16.94%) · Brake pipes corroded and greasy (14.03%) · Wheel bearing slight play (8.15%) · Brake disc pitted or scored (6.83%) · Shock absorber bush slightly worn (6.75%) · Seat belt webbing slightly frayed (6.55%)
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 2004 Land Rover Defender reliable?
2004 Land Rover Defenders fail 34% of first MOT tests, 23% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, ranking 4 of 23 Defender years (14,329 DVSA tests, 2022 to 2024).
What fails on a 2004 Land Rover Defender MOT?
Most often position lamp not working (2.99% of tests), shock absorber bush excessively worn (2.97% of tests), rear fog lamp not working (2.53% of tests).
How many miles should a 2004 Land Rover Defender have done?
At its MOT aged about 19, a typical 2004 Land Rover Defender shows 112,686 miles. Much higher or lower is worth asking about.
What plate is a 2004 car?
A car first registered in 2004 carries a 53 plate (January–February 2004), or a 04 plate (March–August 2004), or a 54 plate (September–December 2004).
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