2011 Land Rover Defender · 12,882 MOT tests
2011 Land Rover Defender reliability
2011 Land Rover Defenders fail 30.2% of first MOT tests, 10% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, ranking 13 of 23 Defender years (12,882 DVSA tests, 2022 to 2024).
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- first-time fail rate (all Land Rover Defenders: 28.8%)
- 30.2%
- first-time fail rate (all Land Rover Defenders: 28.8%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 10% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- typical miles at its MOT, aged about 12
- 72,729
- typical miles at its MOT, aged about 12
- MOT tests, 2022 to 2024
- 12,882
- MOT tests, 2022 to 2024
Year on year
2011 against the years either side
- 2010 cars: 16% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age (the 2011 car does worse)
- 2012 cars: 6% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age (the 2011 car does better)
- Weak spot: steering, 6.7% of tests fail here (190% above cars of the same age and mileage).
- Strong point: tyres, 70% fewer fails than comparable cars.
- Plates: a 2011 car carries a 60 plate (January–February 2011), or a 11 plate (March–August 2011), or a 61 plate (September–December 2011).
Common problems
What fails on a 2011 Land Rover Defender
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics16.2%
- Brakes9%
- Suspension7.6%
- Steering6.7%
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors6.1%
- Body, chassis and structure2.8%
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks2.3%
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top failures
Position lamp not working 3.52%
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 3.29%
Worn shock absorber bushes cause knocking and poor ride control, and they tend to worsen, so they need replacing.
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 3.01%
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
Stop lamp not working 2.86%
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.17%
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 (14.15%) · Engine oil leak, not excessive (7.55%) · Shock absorber bush slightly worn (7.27%) · Brake disc pitted or scored (5.66%) · Brake pads wearing thin (4.61%) · Transmission oil leak, not excessive (4.37%)
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 2011 Land Rover Defender reliable?
2011 Land Rover Defenders fail 30.2% of first MOT tests, 10% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, ranking 13 of 23 Defender years (12,882 DVSA tests, 2022 to 2024).
What fails on a 2011 Land Rover Defender MOT?
Most often position lamp not working (3.52% of tests), shock absorber bush excessively worn (3.29% of tests), rigid brake pipe excessively corroded (3.01% of tests).
How many miles should a 2011 Land Rover Defender have done?
At its MOT aged about 12, a typical 2011 Land Rover Defender shows 72,729 miles. Much higher or lower is worth asking about.
What plate is a 2011 car?
A car first registered in 2011 carries a 60 plate (January–February 2011), or a 11 plate (March–August 2011), or a 61 plate (September–December 2011).
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