2017 Land Rover Discovery MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 81.8% of Land Rover Discovery cars first used in 2017 passed their MOT first time, against 78.2% for all cars first used in 2017. Across 29,449 Discovery first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were tyres, brakes and suspension.
This page analyses first MOT tests for Land Rover Discovery cars first used in 2017 (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 2017 Land Rover Discovery MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, Discovery cars first used in 2017 against all cars first used in 2017 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Discovery figure was 3.6 points higher.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2017 Discovery | All cars first used 2017 | Discovery first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 85.7% | 85.9% | 10,439 |
| 2022 | 85.4% | 83.9% | 10,204 |
| 2023 | 84.5% | 81.7% | 9,940 |
| 2024 | 83.2% | 79.8% | 9,791 |
| 2025 | 81.8% | 78.2% | 9,718 |
Common 2017 Land Rover Discovery MOT failures
Share of the 4,953 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ball joint dust cover: no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | 14.8% | 734 |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | 14.2% | 703 |
| Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | 12.4% | 615 |
| Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm | 8.9% | 441 |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | 7.5% | 372 |
Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.
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What to check on a 2017 Land Rover Discovery 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.
- 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.
- Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
Common 2017 Land Rover Discovery MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2017 Discovery cars, as a share of all 29,449 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 12.0% | 3,536 |
| Brake pads: wearing thin | 11.2% | 3,300 |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | 6.2% | 1,826 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 6.0% | 1,770 |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | 4.0% | 1,192 |
Questions about the 2017 Land Rover Discovery MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2017 Land Rover Discovery?
In 2025, 81.8% of Discovery cars first used in 2017 passed their MOT first time, against 78.2% for all cars first used in 2017. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2017 Discovery most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres (in 34.1% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), brakes (26.3%) and suspension (21.4%). The single most common item was “Ball joint dust cover: no longer prevents the ingress of dirt” (14.8%).
How often does a 2017 Land Rover Discovery fail its MOT?
In 2025, 18.2% of first tests on Discovery cars first used in 2017 did not pass first time: 16.0% failed, and a further 2.2% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 4,953 of 29,449 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2017 Land Rover Discovery MOT advisories?
“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 12.0% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (11.2%), “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (6.2%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (6.0%) and “Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material” (4.0%).
Is a 2017 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 85.7% in 2021 to 81.8% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2017
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2017 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2017 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2017 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2017 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics · 2017 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2017 Discovery?
The numbers above cover every Discovery first used in 2017 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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