2021 Land Rover Defender · 8,432 MOT tests
2021 Land Rover Defender reliability
2021 Land Rover Defenders fail 4.5% of first MOT tests, 64% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, ranking 1 of 23 Defender years (8,432 DVSA tests, 2022 to 2024).
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- first-time fail rate (all Land Rover Defenders: 28.8%)
- 4.5%
- first-time fail rate (all Land Rover Defenders: 28.8%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 64% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- typical miles at its MOT, aged about 3
- 31,305
- typical miles at its MOT, aged about 3
- MOT tests, 2022 to 2024
- 8,432
- MOT tests, 2022 to 2024
Year on year
2021 against the years either side
- 2020 cars: 50% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age (the 2021 car does better)
- Strong point: tyres, 61% fewer fails than comparable cars.
- Plates: a 2021 car carries a 70 plate (January–February 2021), or a 21 plate (March–August 2021), or a 71 plate (September–December 2021).
Common problems
What fails on a 2021 Land Rover Defender
Fail rate by area
- Tyres1.8%
- Lights and electrics0.9%
- Number plates and VIN0.6%
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors0.5%
- Suspension0.3%
- Seat belts and airbags0.2%
- Brakes0.2%
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top failures
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 0.56%
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
Number plate does not meet standards 0.23%
The plate does not meet legal specifications, so it must be replaced with a compliant one before the car is driven.
Airbag warning lamp shows fault 0.15%
A lit airbag warning means the airbag system may not deploy in a crash, so it needs diagnosing and repairing.
Windscreen washer fluid insufficient 0.14%
Washers are not supplying enough liquid, so the windscreen cannot be cleared properly, which is a safety issue.
Headlamp aim set too high 0.13%
Headlamps aimed too high can dazzle other drivers, and adjusting them is usually a quick job.
Tyre ply or cords exposed 0.13%
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
Common advisories
Tyre worn close to legal limit (3.19%) · Brake pads wearing thin (1.26%) · Brake disc pitted or scored (0.93%) · Tyre has a shallow cut (0.65%) · Nail in tyre, monitor (0.59%) · Tyre worn close to legal limit (0.59%)
Other years
Every Land Rover Defender year
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Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 normal tests.
Is a 2021 Land Rover Defender reliable?
2021 Land Rover Defenders fail 4.5% of first MOT tests, 64% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, ranking 1 of 23 Defender years (8,432 DVSA tests, 2022 to 2024).
What fails on a 2021 Land Rover Defender MOT?
Most often tyre cut reaching ply or cords (0.56% of tests), number plate does not meet standards (0.23% of tests), airbag warning lamp shows fault (0.15% of tests).
How many miles should a 2021 Land Rover Defender have done?
At its MOT aged about 3, a typical 2021 Land Rover Defender shows 31,305 miles. Much higher or lower is worth asking about.
What plate is a 2021 car?
A car first registered in 2021 carries a 70 plate (January–February 2021), or a 21 plate (March–August 2021), or a 71 plate (September–December 2021).
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