Large SUV · 2000–2021 cars

Land Rover Range Rover Sport reliability

The Land Rover Range Rover Sport fails 17.7% of first MOT tests, 38% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 515,203 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 84/100#11 of 30 large suvs

Checking a Land Rover Range Rover Sport before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 17.7%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 38% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 515,203; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 9,500; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

What this means for buyers

The Range Rover Sport has a strong MOT record. Across 515,203 tests from 2022 to 2024, 17.7% of cars failed first time, against 28.4% for all cars. It has 38% fewer MOT fails than cars of the same age and mileage, and ranks 11 of 30 large SUV models. The 2021 cars were the best year, with 51% fewer MOT fails than cars of the same age and mileage.

Even so, seat belts and airbags are the weak spot, with 50% more fails there than comparable cars, so check them carefully. Most common failures are brake pads worn below 1.5mm (1.39% of tests), tyres cut to the ply or cords (1.19%), exposed ply or cords (1.1%), and suspension arm pins or bushes excessively worn (1.05%). Check the brake pads, tyres and suspension, and make sure the seat belts and airbag warning light work properly.

MOT fail rate by age

How the Land Rover Range Rover Sport ages

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

Land Rover Range Rover SportAll cars

Land Rover Range Rover Sport first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Land Rover Range Rover Sport	All cars
3	10%	12.3%
4	10.5%	14.1%
5	11%	16.4%
6	12.9%	19.1%
7	15.8%	22.1%
8	16.3%	25.5%
9	16.2%	28.8%
10	17.5%	31.8%
11	19.3%	34.6%
12	22.1%	37.3%
13	24.7%	39.5%
14	26.8%	41.1%
15	29.9%	42.3%
16	31%	42.9%
17	31.1%	43.4%
18	27.4%	43.5%
19	28.6%	43.4%

By year

The best and worst Land Rover Range Rover Sport years

2021 cars come out best and 2006 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Land Rover Range Rover Sport MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2021 Range Rover Sport	4,919	6%	51% fewer fails	29,324
2020 Range Rover Sport	23,296	8.9%	34% fewer fails	34,037
2019 Range Rover Sport	45,886	9.5%	36% fewer fails	39,116
2018 Range Rover Sport	52,213	10.3%	39% fewer fails	45,897
2017 Range Rover Sport	46,183	13.4%	32% fewer fails	56,595
2016 Range Rover Sport	49,149	15.6%	32% fewer fails	64,789
2015 Range Rover Sport	50,808	16.1%	39% fewer fails	73,415
2014 Range Rover Sport	41,218	16.3%	46% fewer fails	82,690
2013 Range Rover Sport	28,870	17.7%	46% fewer fails	89,342
2012 Range Rover Sport	25,293	19.5%	45% fewer fails	94,599
2011 Range Rover Sport	22,778	21.6%	44% fewer fails	101,308
2010 Range Rover Sport	23,827	22.3%	46% fewer fails	109,708
2009 Range Rover Sport	19,475	26.8%	37% fewer fails	114,968
2008 Range Rover Sport	18,958	30.1%	32% fewer fails	123,133
2007 Range Rover Sport	23,000	30.7%	32% fewer fails	128,520
2006 Range Rover Sport	24,753	31.5%	31% fewer fails	135,726
2005 Range Rover Sport	14,543	29.6%	36% fewer fails	137,115

Common problems

What fails most on a Land Rover Range Rover Sport

Its weak spot is seat belts and airbags: 50% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Brakes4.9%29% below avg
Lights and electrics4.7%59% below avg
Tyres4.7%30% below avg
Suspension4.2%54% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors2.5%47% below avg
Body, chassis and structure2%41% below avg
Seat belts and airbags1.5%50% above avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks1.3%60% below avg
Number plates and VIN0.8%105% above avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 1.39% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
2
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 1.19% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
3
Tyre ply or cords exposed 1.1% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
4
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 1.05% of tests
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
5
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.04% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
6
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 1.02% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
7
Airbag warning lamp shows fault 0.95% of tests
A lit airbag warning means the airbag system may not deploy in a crash, so it needs diagnosing and repairing.
8
Position lamp not working 0.84% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.

Most common advisories

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

Tyre worn close to legal limit9.26%
Brake pads wearing thin6.55%
Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear5.18%
Brake disc pitted or scored4.74%
Brake pipes corroded and greasy4.48%
Engine oil leak, not excessive2%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Land Rover Range Rover Sport

1
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.
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
Tyre ply or cords exposed
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
4
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
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 Range Rover Sport covers about 9,500 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

Diesel85.5%
Petrol10.9%
Hybrid3.6%
LPG0%
Electric0%
Other0%

Most common colours

Black, Grey, White, Blue, Silver

Average engine size: 3.2 litres.

Compare

How the Land Rover Range Rover Sport compares with its rivals

Land Rover Range Rover Sport 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 Range Rover Sport questions, answered

Is the Land Rover Range Rover Sport reliable?

On MOT results, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport is better than average: it fails 17.7% of first MOT tests, 38% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 11 of 30 large suv models in our index.

What fails most on a Land Rover Range Rover Sport MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Land Rover Range Rover Sport are brake pads worn below 1.5mm (1.39% of tests), tyre cut reaching ply or cords (1.19% of tests), tyre ply or cords exposed (1.1% of tests). By area, brakes fails 4.9% of its tests.

Which Land Rover Range Rover Sport year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2021 cars do best (51% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2006 cars do worst (31% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Land Rover Range Rover Sport do a year?

A typical Land Rover Range Rover Sport covers about 9,500 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 Range Rover 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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