GetFreeCarCheck
Check a car free

Free checks

Full history · from £4.99

Research

Full Check £9.99 · 3 Full Checks £14.99 · Finance & Stolen Check £4.99

Family SUV · 1997–2020 cars

Land Rover Freelander reliability

The Land Rover Freelander fails 33.4% of first MOT tests, 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 444,045 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 65/100#26 of 59 family suvs

Checking a Land Rover Freelander before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
33.4%
first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage
17% fewer
fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
444,045
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings
9,200
typical miles a year, from MOT readings

What this means for buyers

The Land Rover Freelander can be a sensible buy if you check it. Its first-time MOT fail rate is 33.4%, against 28.4% for all cars. But compared with cars of the same age and mileage, it has 17% fewer MOT fails. The 2011 model year did best, with 34% fewer MOT fails than cars of the same age and mileage. Be wary of 1999 cars, which had 20% more MOT fails than cars of the same age and mileage.

Steering is the weak area, with 59% more fails than cars of the same age and mileage. Check the track rod end ball joints first, as they are the most common failure, at 3.15% of tests. Check every lamp works, including position and stop lamps. Measure tyre tread too, as tread below 1.6mm appears in 2.01% of tests.

MOT fail rate by age

How the Land Rover Freelander ages

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

0%15%30%45%60%791113151719212325Age at MOT (years)
Land Rover FreelanderAll cars
Land Rover Freelander first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)Land Rover FreelanderAll cars
717.4%22.1%
820.6%25.5%
921.7%28.8%
1023.3%31.8%
1125.6%34.6%
1228%37.3%
1330.9%39.5%
1435%41.1%
1537.9%42.3%
1640.9%42.9%
1745.2%43.4%
1848.3%43.5%
1947.8%43.4%
2046.4%42.8%
2145.7%41.4%
2247.1%40.6%
2347.7%38.9%
2444.9%37.1%
2541.1%35.8%

By year

The best and worst Land Rover Freelander years

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

Land Rover Freelander MOT results by year of first registration
First registeredTestsFail rateAgainst same-age carsTypical mileage
2014 Freelander40,40119.8%31% fewer fails77,319
2013 Freelander46,22623.8%27% fewer fails88,769
2012 Freelander36,32524.6%30% fewer fails95,030
2011 Freelander43,34825.2%34% fewer fails106,012
2010 Freelander49,33531.6%23% fewer fails113,797
2009 Freelander35,31332.1%25% fewer fails120,557
2008 Freelander39,70136.6%17% fewer fails130,006
2007 Freelander51,92038%16% fewer fails135,988
2006 Freelander24,91347.3%5% more fails124,249
2005 Freelander23,84048.2%6% more fails123,594
2004 Freelander20,57047.7%5% more fails125,953
2003 Freelander13,17247.4%5% more fails129,151
2002 Freelander9,60846.8%5% more fails133,142
2001 Freelander4,84747.2%10% more fails125,438
2000 Freelander1,91644.5%8% more fails115,059
1999 Freelander1,36547.3%20% more fails115,898
199897542.5%10% more fails115,938

Common problems

What fails most on a Land Rover Freelander

Its weak spot is steering: 59% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

  • Lights and electrics15.1%19% below avg
  • Suspension12%23% below avg
  • Brakes10.7%2% below avg
  • Steering5.6%59% above avg
  • Body, chassis and structure4.5%31% below avg
  • Tyres4.3%43% below avg
  • Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3.9%37% below avg
  • Exhaust, emissions and leaks2%64% below avg
  • Seat belts and airbags1.5%24% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

  1. 1

    Track rod end ball joint excessively worn 3.15% of tests

    Worn steering ball joints can affect steering control and safety, so repair is needed before the car is driven.

  2. 2

    Position lamp not working 3.07% of tests

    A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.

  3. 3

    Stop lamp not working 3.02% of tests

    A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.

  4. 4

    Tyre tread below 1.6mm 2.01% of tests

    Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.

  5. 5

    Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint worn 2.01% of tests

    A worn linkage ball joint can rattle, affect handling and eventually fail, so it should be replaced.

  6. 6

    Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 1.9% of tests

    Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.

  7. 7

    Dipped beam headlamp not working 1.87% of tests

    A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.

  8. 8

    Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.78% of tests

    Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.

Most common advisories

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

  • Tyre worn close to legal limit13.74%
  • Brake disc pitted or scored7.89%
  • Brake pipes corroded and greasy7.64%
  • Brake pads wearing thin6.87%
  • Engine oil leak, not excessive5.14%
  • Sub-frame showing corrosion4.82%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Land Rover Freelander

  1. 1

    Track rod end ball joint excessively worn

    Worn steering ball joints can affect steering control and safety, so repair is needed before the car is driven.

  2. 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. 3

    Stop lamp not working

    A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.

  4. 4

    Tyre tread below 1.6mm

    Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.

  5. 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. 6

    The mileage record

    A typical Land Rover Freelander covers about 9,200 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.

  7. 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

  • Diesel96.5%
  • Petrol3.5%
  • LPG0%
  • Electric0%
  • Other0%

Most common colours

Black, Grey, Silver, Blue, Red

Average engine size: 2.1 litres.

Compare

How the Land Rover Freelander compares with its rivals

Land Rover Freelander against similar models
ModelFail rateAgainst same-age cars
Audi Q515.3%38% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Audi Q315.5%29% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Volvo XC6019.5%22% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Toyota RAV425.3%20% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Land Rover Freelander33.4%17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Hyundai Tucson17.5%3% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Peugeot 300828.6%21% 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 Freelander questions, answered

Is the Land Rover Freelander reliable?

On MOT results, the Land Rover Freelander is better than average: it fails 33.4% of first MOT tests, 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 26 of 59 family suv models in our index.

What fails most on a Land Rover Freelander MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Land Rover Freelander are track rod end ball joint excessively worn (3.15% of tests), position lamp not working (3.07% of tests), stop lamp not working (3.02% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 15.1% of its tests.

Which Land Rover Freelander year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2011 cars do best (34% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 1999 cars do worst (20% more MOT fails than the average car its age).

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

A typical Land Rover Freelander covers about 9,200 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 Freelander 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.

Found a Land Rover Freelander? Check it free.

MOT history, mileage record, ULEZ, tax and recalls on any UK car, in seconds. No sign-up, no card.