At a Glance
The Land Rover Defender Classic has 122 identified problems that occur more often than the UK average, with Shock absorber worn or leaking being the most reported. Electrical is the most common MOT failure category. The most serious issue flagged is Shock absorber worn or leaking, rated as dangerous. Based on 2.1M MOT tests from DVSA data.
Problems are patterns in the DVSA data that occur significantly more often on this model than the UK average — confirmed at 99% statistical confidence. Read how we calculate MOT pass rates and problems →
Below: the full MOT-data picture for the Land Rover Defender Classic — MOT pass rate vs the UK average, common problems vs UK fleet patterns, the most likely MOT failures by frequency, fault occurrence by mileage band, and pass/fail trends. All numbers drawn from DVSA records.
Land Rover Defender Classic MOT Pass Rate
Across 2.1M MOT tests from DVSA data, the Land Rover Defender Classic (1948–2016) has a fail rate of 37.0%.
UK average fail rate (2006–2016): 38.5%
Common Land Rover Defender Classic Problems
Owner-submitted reports plus patterns we've identified across 559 million UK MOT tests. Each MOT-derived item below — whether tagged as a Problem, Wear & Tear or Consumable — shows up noticeably more often on this generation than across the UK fleet, which is why it's here. Owner reports are pinned to the top by default; use the sort and filter pills below to view a specific tier or change the order.
Shock absorber worn or leaking
109,099
occurrences
Wiper blades deteriorated
86,706
occurrences
Brake hydraulic component worn
86,228
occurrences
Drag link end worn
71,607
occurrences
Track rod end worn
67,648
occurrences
Tell Us About Your Problem
Help other Land Rover Defender Classic owners — report a problem and we'll add it to the database
Tell Us About Your Problem
Help other Land Rover Defender Classic owners — report a problem and we'll add it to the database
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Problems by mileage
Common problems, MOT failures and advisories on the Land Rover Defender Classic, grouped by the mileage they typically appear at.
1,282 distinct problems · 4,735,617 total occurrences in current filter
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Advisory items are MOT tester observations. Frequency can be influenced by driving style and usage patterns.
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Other Land Rover Defender Generations
Classic
1948–2016
162 problems
Current page
L663
2020–2025
0 problems
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common Land Rover Defender Classic problems?
Based on DVSA MOT data for the Land Rover Defender Classic (1948–2016), we have identified 122 common problems. The most frequently reported is "Shock absorber worn or leaking". Electrical is the most common MOT failure category.
How reliable is the Land Rover Defender Classic?
This generation has 2.1M MOT tests on record with a 37.0% fail rate. A fault is flagged as a "Common Problem" only when it occurs significantly more often on this model than the UK average, confirmed at 99% statistical confidence.
What commonly fails the MOT on a Land Rover Defender Classic?
There are 222 distinct MOT failure types recorded for the Classic (1948–2016), grouped by the mileage these failures typically occur. See the Common MOT Failures section on this page.
Can I report a problem with my Land Rover Defender Classic?
Yes — use the "Tell Us About Your Problem" form on this page. Your report helps other Land Rover Defender owners spot problems early. All submissions are reviewed before being added to the public database.
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