Large SUV · 1996–2021 cars

Land Rover Discovery reliability

The Land Rover Discovery fails 25.3% of first MOT tests, 26% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 555,851 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 74/100#16 of 30 large suvs

Checking a Land Rover Discovery before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 25.3%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 26% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 555,851; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 11,000; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

What this means for buyers

The Land Rover Discovery is a reasonable buy if you check it well. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage, it has 26% fewer MOT fails. Its first-time fail rate is 25.3%, against 28.4% for all cars. The 2011 model year is the best, with 37% fewer MOT fails than cars of the same age and mileage.

Check these four faults before you buy: suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (2.78% of tests), position lamp not working (2.1% of tests), brake pads worn below 1.5mm (1.61% of tests) and rigid brake pipe excessively corroded (1.49% of tests). Ask for the MOT history, look underneath on a ramp or lift, and test the suspension on a bumpy road. Corroded brake pipes are a serious fault, so look closely.

MOT fail rate by age

How the Land Rover Discovery ages

Each point is the share of Land Rover Discoverys of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Land Rover DiscoveryAll cars

Land Rover Discovery first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Land Rover Discovery	All cars
3	11.7%	12.3%
4	12.4%	14.1%
5	13%	16.4%
6	14.5%	19.1%
7	17.1%	22.1%
8	19.8%	25.5%
9	21.4%	28.8%
10	24.4%	31.8%
11	25.3%	34.6%
12	26.6%	37.3%
13	28.8%	39.5%
14	31.3%	41.1%
15	34.6%	42.3%
16	35.5%	42.9%
17	35.8%	43.4%
18	35.4%	43.5%
19	35.1%	43.4%
20	35.2%	42.8%
21	36.2%	41.4%
22	37%	40.6%
23	35.3%	38.9%
24	35%	37.1%
25	33%	35.8%

By year

The best and worst Land Rover Discovery years

2011 cars come out best and 1999 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Land Rover Discovery MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2021 Discovery	7,192	10.7%	19% fewer fails	32,754
2020 Discovery	14,892	11.2%	25% fewer fails	41,386
2019 Discovery	27,520	11.3%	30% fewer fails	46,777
2018 Discovery	36,164	12%	33% fewer fails	52,804
2017 Discovery	42,079	13.8%	32% fewer fails	60,468
2016 Discovery	36,526	17.9%	25% fewer fails	72,665
2015 Discovery	34,134	18.8%	31% fewer fails	85,009
2014 Discovery	27,840	20.6%	33% fewer fails	94,432
2013 Discovery	23,924	23.9%	30% fewer fails	105,389
2012 Discovery	25,609	25%	32% fewer fails	113,070
2011 Discovery	23,365	25.1%	37% fewer fails	122,312
2010 Discovery	25,301	27.5%	34% fewer fails	129,362
2009 Discovery	20,161	31.4%	27% fewer fails	135,304
2008 Discovery	19,622	33.2%	26% fewer fails	141,930
2007 Discovery	26,835	34.9%	23% fewer fails	146,244
2006 Discovery	31,216	36.6%	20% fewer fails	154,222
2005 Discovery	31,081	34.9%	24% fewer fails	159,147
2004 Discovery	23,855	35.6%	23% fewer fails	147,097
2003 Discovery	21,117	35.4%	23% fewer fails	144,413
2002 Discovery	17,217	36.4%	20% fewer fails	150,234
2001 Discovery	13,452	38%	14% fewer fails	151,088
2000 Discovery	8,960	35.8%	17% fewer fails	155,379
1999 Discovery	9,826	36.2%	13% fewer fails	157,406
1998 Discovery	5,027	34.2%	16% fewer fails	158,380
1997 Discovery	2,224	33.2%	17% fewer fails	151,725
1996	712	30.2%	23% fewer fails	150,746

Common problems

What fails most on a Land Rover Discovery

Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics9.7%36% below avg
Suspension8.5%31% below avg
Brakes7.8%19% below avg
Body, chassis and structure5.5%3% below avg
Tyres4.1%43% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3.4%38% below avg
Steering2.1%30% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks1.9%58% below avg
Seat belts and airbags1.6%15% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 2.78% of tests
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
2
Position lamp not working 2.1% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
3
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 1.61% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
4
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 1.49% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
5
Stop lamp not working 1.48% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
6
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.3% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
7
Registration plate lamp not working 1.3% of tests
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.
8
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 1.07% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Land Rover Discovery's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit10.14%
Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear7.91%
Brake pipes corroded and greasy7.26%
Brake pads wearing thin6.57%
Engine oil leak, not excessive5.95%
Brake disc pitted or scored5.17%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Land Rover Discovery

1
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
2
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
3
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
4
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical Land Rover Discovery covers about 11,000 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Diesel97.8%
Petrol1.8%
Hybrid0.2%
LPG0.1%
Other0%

Most common colours

Black, Grey, Silver, Blue, Green

Average engine size: 2.8 litres.

Compare

How the Land Rover Discovery compares with its rivals

Land Rover Discovery against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Audi Q7	16.8%	41% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Land Rover Range Rover	19.4%	39% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Land Rover Range Rover Sport	17.7%	38% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
BMW X5	19.9%	36% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Land Rover Discovery	25.3%	26% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Land Rover Defender	28.8%	15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Volvo XC90	27.3%	12% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age

Every large suv ranked in the large suv reliability index, or all Land Rover models.

Questions

Land Rover Discovery questions, answered

Is the Land Rover Discovery reliable?

On MOT results, the Land Rover Discovery is better than average: it fails 25.3% of first MOT tests, 26% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 16 of 30 large suv models in our index.

What fails most on a Land Rover Discovery MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Land Rover Discovery are suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn (2.78% of tests), position lamp not working (2.1% of tests), brake pads worn below 1.5mm (1.61% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 9.7% of its tests.

Which Land Rover Discovery year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2011 cars do best (37% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 1999 cars do worst (13% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Land Rover Discovery do a year?

A typical Land Rover Discovery covers about 11,000 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Land Rover Discovery before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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