2009 Land Rover Defender · 11,737 MOT tests
2009 Land Rover Defender reliability
2009 Land Rover Defenders fail 32.6% of first MOT tests, 15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, ranking 11 of 23 Defender years (11,737 DVSA tests, 2022 to 2024).
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- first-time fail rate (all Land Rover Defenders: 28.8%)
- 32.6%
- first-time fail rate (all Land Rover Defenders: 28.8%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 15% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- typical miles at its MOT, aged about 14
- 81,932
- typical miles at its MOT, aged about 14
- MOT tests, 2022 to 2024
- 11,737
- MOT tests, 2022 to 2024
Year on year
2009 against the years either side
- 2008 cars: 22% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age (the 2009 car does worse)
- 2010 cars: 16% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age (the 2009 car does worse)
- Weak spot: steering, 9.1% of tests fail here (228% above cars of the same age and mileage).
- Strong point: tyres, 75% fewer fails than comparable cars.
- Plates: a 2009 car carries a 58 plate (January–February 2009), or a 09 plate (March–August 2009), or a 59 plate (September–December 2009).
Common problems
What fails on a 2009 Land Rover Defender
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics16.2%
- Brakes10.1%
- Suspension9.6%
- Steering9.1%
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors6.8%
- Body, chassis and structure5.1%
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks2.7%
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top failures
Position lamp not working 3.3%
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.
Stop lamp not working 2.96%
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 2.89%
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.07%
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
Registration plate lamp not working 1.81%
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 (15.11%) · Engine oil leak, not excessive (9.08%) · Brake disc pitted or scored (6.61%) · Shock absorber bush slightly worn (6.58%) · Seat belt webbing slightly frayed (5.14%) · Tyre slightly damaged or cracking (4.48%)
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 2009 Land Rover Defender reliable?
2009 Land Rover Defenders fail 32.6% of first MOT tests, 15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, ranking 11 of 23 Defender years (11,737 DVSA tests, 2022 to 2024).
What fails on a 2009 Land Rover Defender MOT?
Most often position lamp not working (3.3% of tests), shock absorber bush excessively worn (3.02% of tests), stop lamp not working (2.96% of tests).
How many miles should a 2009 Land Rover Defender have done?
At its MOT aged about 14, a typical 2009 Land Rover Defender shows 81,932 miles. Much higher or lower is worth asking about.
What plate is a 2009 car?
A car first registered in 2009 carries a 58 plate (January–February 2009), or a 09 plate (March–August 2009), or a 59 plate (September–December 2009).
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