2020 Land Rover Defender MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 88.7% of Land Rover Defenders first used in 2020 passed their MOT first time, against 86.0% for all cars first used in 2020. Across 12,414 Defender first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were tyres, lamps and electrical equipment and brakes.
This page analyses first MOT tests for Land Rover Defenders first used in 2020 (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 2020 Land Rover Defender MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, Defenders first used in 2020 against all cars first used in 2020 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Defender figure was in line with the all-cars figure.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2020 Defender | All cars first used 2020 | Defender first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | fewer than 500 tests | 84.7% | 290 |
| 2022 | fewer than 500 tests | 90.2% | 135 |
| 2023 | 90.9% | 87.7% | 4,031 |
| 2024 | 90.0% | 86.9% | 4,190 |
| 2025 | 88.7% | 86.0% | 4,193 |
Common 2020 Land Rover Defender MOT failures
Share of the 1,260 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | 19.3% | 243 |
| Position lamp: not working | 8.9% | 112 |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | 8.7% | 109 |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction | 8.7% | 109 |
| Registration plates: does not conform to the specified requirements | 7.0% | 88 |
Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.
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What to check on a 2020 Land Rover Defender before buying
The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.
- Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
- Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
- 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 2020 Land Rover Defender MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2020 Defenders, as a share of all 12,414 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 9.7% | 1,210 |
| Brake pads: wearing thin | 7.7% | 958 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 5.4% | 676 |
| Tyre condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords | 2.4% | 292 |
| Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt | 2.2% | 272 |
Questions about the 2020 Land Rover Defender MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2020 Land Rover Defender?
In 2025, 88.7% of Defenders first used in 2020 passed their MOT first time, against 86.0% for all cars first used in 2020. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2020 Defender most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres (in 34.4% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), lamps and electrical equipment (25.2%) and brakes (14.0%). The single most common item was “Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords” (19.3%).
How often does a 2020 Land Rover Defender fail its MOT?
In 2025, 11.3% of first tests on Defenders first used in 2020 did not pass first time: 9.2% failed, and a further 2.1% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 1,260 of 12,414 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2020 Land Rover Defender MOT advisories?
“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 9.7% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (7.7%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (5.4%), “Tyre condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords” (2.4%) and “Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt” (2.2%).
Is a 2020 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 90.9% in 2023 to 88.7% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2020
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2020 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2020 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2020 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2020 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2020 MINI Hatch MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2020 Defender?
The numbers above cover every Defender first used in 2020 and tested in Great Britain. Our free check shows the actual MOT history, mileage record and tax status of the one you are looking at.
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