2012 Land Rover Defender · 13,092 MOT tests
2012 Land Rover Defender reliability
2012 Land Rover Defenders fail 28.2% of first MOT tests, 6% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, ranking 17 of 23 Defender years (13,092 DVSA tests, 2022 to 2024).
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- first-time fail rate (all Land Rover Defenders: 28.8%)
- 28.2%
- first-time fail rate (all Land Rover Defenders: 28.8%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 6% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- typical miles at its MOT, aged about 11
- 63,360
- typical miles at its MOT, aged about 11
- MOT tests, 2022 to 2024
- 13,092
- MOT tests, 2022 to 2024
Year on year
2012 against the years either side
- 2011 cars: 10% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age (the 2012 car does worse)
- 2013 cars: 5% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age (the 2012 car does better)
- Weak spot: steering, 5.5% of tests fail here (184% above cars of the same age and mileage).
- Strong point: tyres, 69% fewer fails than comparable cars.
- Plates: a 2012 car carries a 61 plate (January–February 2012), or a 12 plate (March–August 2012), or a 62 plate (September–December 2012).
Common problems
What fails on a 2012 Land Rover Defender
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics17.4%
- Brakes7.1%
- Suspension6.8%
- Steering5.5%
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors5.4%
- Tyres1.8%
- Body, chassis and structure1.8%
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top failures
Position lamp not working 4.72%
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 3.39%
Worn shock absorber bushes cause knocking and poor ride control, and they tend to worsen, so they need replacing.
Stop lamp not working 3.09%
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 2.62%
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.26%
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
Headlamp aim set too low 2.17%
Headlamps aimed too low light the road poorly and reduce the driver's view ahead, especially at night.
Common advisories
Brake pipes corroded and greasy (12.24%) · Shock absorber bush slightly worn (7.18%) · Brake disc pitted or scored (5.55%) · Brake pads wearing thin (4.73%) · Tyre worn close to legal limit (4.16%) · Transmission oil leak, not excessive (3.93%)
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 2012 Land Rover Defender reliable?
2012 Land Rover Defenders fail 28.2% of first MOT tests, 6% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, ranking 17 of 23 Defender years (13,092 DVSA tests, 2022 to 2024).
What fails on a 2012 Land Rover Defender MOT?
Most often position lamp not working (4.72% of tests), shock absorber bush excessively worn (3.39% of tests), stop lamp not working (3.09% of tests).
How many miles should a 2012 Land Rover Defender have done?
At its MOT aged about 11, a typical 2012 Land Rover Defender shows 63,360 miles. Much higher or lower is worth asking about.
What plate is a 2012 car?
A car first registered in 2012 carries a 61 plate (January–February 2012), or a 12 plate (March–August 2012), or a 62 plate (September–December 2012).
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