2006 Land Rover Defender · 12,470 MOT tests
2006 Land Rover Defender reliability
2006 Land Rover Defenders fail 33.5% of first MOT tests, 21% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, ranking 7 of 23 Defender years (12,470 DVSA tests, 2022 to 2024).
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- first-time fail rate (all Land Rover Defenders: 28.8%)
- 33.5%
- first-time fail rate (all Land Rover Defenders: 28.8%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 21% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- typical miles at its MOT, aged about 17
- 100,584
- typical miles at its MOT, aged about 17
- MOT tests, 2022 to 2024
- 12,470
- MOT tests, 2022 to 2024
Year on year
2006 against the years either side
- 2005 cars: 21% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age (the 2006 car does worse)
- 2007 cars: 24% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age (the 2006 car does worse)
- Weak spot: steering, 9.7% of tests fail here (167% above cars of the same age and mileage).
- Strong point: tyres, 72% fewer fails than comparable cars.
- Plates: a 2006 car carries a 55 plate (January–February 2006), or a 06 plate (March–August 2006), or a 56 plate (September–December 2006).
Common problems
What fails on a 2006 Land Rover Defender
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics16.3%
- Suspension10.6%
- Brakes9.8%
- Steering9.7%
- Body, chassis and structure7.8%
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors7.1%
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks3.6%
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top failures
Position lamp not working 3.16%
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 3.02%
Worn shock absorber bushes cause knocking and poor ride control, and they tend to worsen, so they need replacing.
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 2.63%
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.53%
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
Stop lamp not working 2.33%
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
Registration plate lamp not working 1.84%
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.
Common advisories
Brake pipes corroded and greasy (16.08%) · Engine oil leak, not excessive (15.67%) · Shock absorber bush slightly worn (6.82%) · Brake disc pitted or scored (6.49%) · Wheel bearing slight play (5.77%) · Tyre slightly damaged or cracking (5.35%)
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 2006 Land Rover Defender reliable?
2006 Land Rover Defenders fail 33.5% of first MOT tests, 21% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, ranking 7 of 23 Defender years (12,470 DVSA tests, 2022 to 2024).
What fails on a 2006 Land Rover Defender MOT?
Most often position lamp not working (3.16% of tests), shock absorber bush excessively worn (3.02% of tests), rigid brake pipe excessively corroded (2.63% of tests).
How many miles should a 2006 Land Rover Defender have done?
At its MOT aged about 17, a typical 2006 Land Rover Defender shows 100,584 miles. Much higher or lower is worth asking about.
What plate is a 2006 car?
A car first registered in 2006 carries a 55 plate (January–February 2006), or a 06 plate (March–August 2006), or a 56 plate (September–December 2006).
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