2018 Land Rover Discovery MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 85.5% of Land Rover Discovery cars first used in 2018 passed their MOT first time, against 80.9% for all cars first used in 2018. Across 25,502 Discovery first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were tyres, brakes and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen).
This page analyses first MOT tests for Land Rover Discovery cars first used in 2018 (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 2018 Land Rover Discovery MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, Discovery cars first used in 2018 against all cars first used in 2018 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Discovery figure was 4.6 points higher.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2018 Discovery | All cars first used 2018 | Discovery first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 88.0% | 87.6% | 8,774 |
| 2022 | 85.7% | 86.3% | 8,788 |
| 2023 | 86.0% | 84.2% | 8,497 |
| 2024 | 86.4% | 82.5% | 8,556 |
| 2025 | 85.5% | 80.9% | 8,449 |
Common 2018 Land Rover Discovery MOT failures
Share of the 3,577 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 | 16.2% | 580 |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | 12.0% | 430 |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | 11.5% | 413 |
| Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm | 8.4% | 302 |
| Tyre condition: has ply or cords exposed | 6.8% | 243 |
Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.
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What to check on a 2018 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.
- 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.
Common 2018 Land Rover Discovery MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2018 Discovery cars, as a share of all 25,502 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Brake pads: wearing thin | 11.5% | 2,939 |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 11.3% | 2,871 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 9.0% | 2,287 |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | 5.0% | 1,265 |
| Tyre condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords | 3.0% | 754 |
Questions about the 2018 Land Rover Discovery MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2018 Land Rover Discovery?
In 2025, 85.5% of Discovery cars first used in 2018 passed their MOT first time, against 80.9% for all cars first used in 2018. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2018 Discovery most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres (in 38.4% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), brakes (19.9%) and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) (15.8%). The single most common item was “Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords” (16.2%).
How often does a 2018 Land Rover Discovery fail its MOT?
In 2025, 14.5% of first tests on Discovery cars first used in 2018 did not pass first time: 12.7% failed, and a further 1.8% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 3,577 of 25,502 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2018 Land Rover Discovery MOT advisories?
“Brake pads: wearing thin” (on 11.5% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (11.3%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (9.0%), “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (5.0%) and “Tyre condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords” (3.0%).
Is a 2018 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 88.0% in 2021 to 85.5% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2018
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2018 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2018 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2018 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2018 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2018 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2018 Discovery?
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