2011 Land Rover Discovery MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 71.2% of Land Rover Discovery cars first used in 2011 passed their MOT first time, against 61.2% for all cars first used in 2011. Across 17,994 Discovery first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were suspension, brakes and lamps and electrical equipment.
This page analyses first MOT tests for Land Rover Discovery cars first used in 2011 (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 2011 Land Rover Discovery MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, Discovery cars first used in 2011 against all cars first used in 2011 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Discovery figure was 10.0 points higher.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2011 Discovery | All cars first used 2011 | Discovery first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 73.5% | 65.8% | 6,656 |
| 2022 | 74.4% | 64.5% | 6,486 |
| 2023 | 73.2% | 63.0% | 6,260 |
| 2024 | 71.1% | 61.8% | 6,021 |
| 2025 | 71.2% | 61.2% | 5,713 |
Common 2011 Land Rover Discovery MOT failures
Share of the 5,065 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | 22.2% | 1,124 |
| Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded | 10.2% | 517 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 8.7% | 441 |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | 8.4% | 426 |
| Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | 8.2% | 416 |
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 Discovery in particular, and not a quote.
| Failure item | Typical job | Typical UK price | Usual range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension arm replacement | £150 | £120–£180 |
From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.
What to check on a 2011 Land Rover Discovery before buying
The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.
- Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
- 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.
- Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
Common 2011 Land Rover Discovery MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2011 Discovery cars, as a share of all 17,994 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 16.0% | 2,874 |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | 15.1% | 2,722 |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | 13.8% | 2,492 |
| Brake pads: wearing thin | 8.8% | 1,578 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 6.8% | 1,227 |
Questions about the 2011 Land Rover Discovery MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2011 Land Rover Discovery?
In 2025, 71.2% of Discovery cars first used in 2011 passed their MOT first time, against 61.2% for all cars first used in 2011. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2011 Discovery most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension (in 35.5% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), brakes (33.0%) and lamps and electrical equipment (29.4%). The single most common item was “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn” (22.2%).
How often does a 2011 Land Rover Discovery fail its MOT?
In 2025, 28.8% of first tests on Discovery cars first used in 2011 did not pass first time: 25.0% failed, and a further 3.8% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 5,065 of 17,994 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2011 Land Rover Discovery MOT advisories?
“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 16.0% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (15.1%), “Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material” (13.8%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (8.8%) and “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (6.8%).
Is a 2011 Land Rover Discovery 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 73.5% in 2021 to 71.2% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2011
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2011 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2011 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2011 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2011 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2011 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2011 Discovery?
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