2016 Land Rover Defender MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 83.6% of Land Rover Defenders first used in 2016 passed their MOT first time, against 74.9% for all cars first used in 2016. Across 5,311 Defender first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) and brakes.
This page analyses first MOT tests for Land Rover Defenders first used in 2016 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.
Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026
How the 2016 Land Rover Defender MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, Defenders first used in 2016 against all cars first used in 2016 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Defender figure was 8.7 points higher.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2016 Defender | All cars first used 2016 | Defender first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 82.2% | 82.7% | 2,213 |
| 2022 | 82.7% | 80.9% | 1,858 |
| 2023 | 83.2% | 78.6% | 1,802 |
| 2024 | 83.2% | 76.7% | 1,746 |
| 2025 | 83.6% | 74.9% | 1,763 |
Common 2016 Land Rover Defender MOT failures
Share of the 885 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
Most common failure items
| DVSA failure item | Share of failed first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Position lamp: not working | 21.6% | 191 |
| Headlamp aim: too low | 11.9% | 105 |
| Headlamp aim: too high | 10.7% | 95 |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | 10.6% | 94 |
| Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush | 9.6% | 85 |
Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.
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Typical repair costs for common MOT failures
Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for a Defender in particular, and not a quote.
| Failure item | Typical job | Typical UK price | Usual range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush | Shock absorber replacement | £300 | £200–£500 |
From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.
What to check on a 2016 Land Rover Defender before buying
The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.
- Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
- Wipers and windscreen. Worth checking that the wipers clear the screen cleanly, that the washers work, and that there are no chips or cracks in the driver’s view.
- Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.
Common 2016 Land Rover Defender MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2016 Defenders, as a share of all 5,311 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush | 5.3% | 283 |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | 4.8% | 254 |
| Brake pads: wearing thin | 3.7% | 197 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 2.7% | 146 |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 2.6% | 137 |
Questions about the 2016 Land Rover Defender MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2016 Land Rover Defender?
In 2025, 83.6% of Defenders first used in 2016 passed their MOT first time, against 74.9% for all cars first used in 2016. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2016 Defender most often fail its MOT on?
Lamps and electrical equipment (in 61.0% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) (18.3%) and brakes (18.2%). The single most common item was “Position lamp: not working” (21.6%).
How often does a 2016 Land Rover Defender fail its MOT?
In 2025, 16.4% of first tests on Defenders first used in 2016 did not pass first time: 10.7% failed, and a further 5.7% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 885 of 5,311 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2016 Land Rover Defender MOT advisories?
“Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush” (on 5.3% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material” (4.8%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (3.7%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (2.7%) and “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (2.6%).
Is a 2016 Land Rover Defender reliable?
An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 82.2% in 2021 to 83.6% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2016
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2016 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2016 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2016 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2016 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2016 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2016 Defender?
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