Family SUV · 2004–2021 cars
Land Rover Discovery Sport reliability
The Land Rover Discovery Sport fails 16.5% of first MOT tests, 14% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 337,006 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Land Rover Discovery Sport before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 16.5%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 14% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 337,006
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 9,700
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
What this means for buyers
The Land Rover Discovery Sport is a sound choice with a solid MOT record. Its first-time MOT fail rate is 16.5%, against 28.4% for all cars, and it has 14% fewer MOT fails than cars of the same age and mileage. It ranks 28 of 59 family SUV models, so it's mid-table rather than class-leading.
The model year makes a real difference. 2015 cars are the best, with 34% fewer MOT fails than cars of the same age and mileage, while 2021 cars are the weakest, with 20% more. Exhaust, emissions and leaks is the weakest area, with 37% more fails than comparable cars, so check the exhaust closely. Before you buy, check these: wiper blades that clear the windscreen, tyres with cuts reaching the ply or cords, brake pads worn below 1.5mm, and the diesel engine warning light.
MOT fail rate by age
How the Land Rover Discovery Sport ages
Each point is the share of Land Rover Discovery Sports of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Land Rover Discovery Sport | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 16.1% | 12.3% |
| 4 | 16.2% | 14.1% |
| 5 | 15.9% | 16.4% |
| 6 | 16.7% | 19.1% |
| 7 | 17.3% | 22.1% |
| 8 | 17% | 25.5% |
| 9 | 17% | 28.8% |
By year
The best and worst Land Rover Discovery Sport years
2015 cars come out best and 2021 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Discovery Sport | 1,890 | 14.8% | 20% more fails | 29,397 |
| 2020 Discovery Sport | 23,350 | 14.6% | 12% more fails | 31,882 |
| 2019 Discovery Sport | 45,250 | 16.1% | 13% more fails | 36,625 |
| 2018 Discovery Sport | 61,568 | 16.3% | 2% more fails | 42,740 |
| 2017 Discovery Sport | 75,355 | 16.2% | 15% fewer fails | 53,577 |
| 2016 Discovery Sport | 73,258 | 17.5% | 21% fewer fails | 62,587 |
| 2015 Discovery Sport | 55,978 | 17.2% | 34% fewer fails | 73,691 |
| 2014 | 338 | 15.4% | 43% fewer fails | 70,855 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Land Rover Discovery Sport
Its weak spot is exhaust, emissions and leaks: 37% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Tyres5.2%11% below avg
- Lights and electrics4.4%19% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3.6%4% above avg
- Brakes3.1%19% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks2%37% above avg
- Suspension1.3%64% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure0.4%65% below avg
- Number plates and VIN0.3%11% above avg
- Seat belts and airbags0.3%40% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.33% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 2
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 1.92% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
- 3
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 1.62% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 4
Diesel engine warning light faulty 1.04% of tests
A lit or non-working engine warning light can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 5
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 0.99% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 6
Tyre ply or cords exposed 0.89% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 7
Rear fog lamp not working 0.81% of tests
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
- 8
Dipped beam headlamp not working 0.62% of tests
A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Land Rover Discovery Sport's MOT certificate most often.
- Brake disc pitted or scored12.05%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit12.01%
- Brake pads wearing thin9.68%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking4.3%
- Child seat limits belt inspection2.88%
- Tyre has a shallow cut2.03%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Land Rover Discovery Sport
- 1
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 2
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
- 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
Diesel engine warning light faulty
A lit or non-working engine warning light can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 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 Sport covers about 9,700 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
- Diesel95.2%
- Petrol4.8%
- Hybrid0%
- LPG0%
Most common colours
Grey, Black, White, Red, Blue
Average engine size: 2.0 litres.
Compare
How the Land Rover Discovery Sport compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Audi Q5 | 15.3% | 38% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| BMW X3 | 19.9% | 25% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Volvo XC60 | 19.5% | 22% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Toyota RAV4 | 25.3% | 20% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Land Rover Discovery Sport | 16.5% | 14% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Hyundai Tucson | 17.5% | 3% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan X-Trail | 29.3% | 6% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every family suv ranked in the family suv reliability index, or all Land Rover models.
Questions
Land Rover Discovery Sport questions, answered
Is the Land Rover Discovery Sport reliable?
On MOT results, the Land Rover Discovery Sport is about average: it fails 16.5% of first MOT tests, 14% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 28 of 59 family suv models in our index.
What fails most on a Land Rover Discovery Sport MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Land Rover Discovery Sport are wiper blade not clearing windscreen (2.33% of tests), tyre cut reaching ply or cords (1.92% of tests), brake pads worn below 1.5mm (1.62% of tests). By area, tyres fails 5.2% of its tests.
Which Land Rover Discovery Sport year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2015 cars do best (34% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2021 cars do worst (20% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Land Rover Discovery Sport do a year?
A typical Land Rover Discovery Sport covers about 9,700 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 Sport 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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