Petrol Land Rover Defender: MOT pass rate

76% of petrol Land Rover Defenders pass the MOT first time, measured across 2,214 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 95,287.

Petrol against the other Land Rover Defender versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Petrol cars avoid the DPF and emissions failures that catch diesels, and usually fail on the same consumables as any other car.

On the Land Rover Defender specifically, petrol is the strongest at 76%, and this petrol version sits 2.5 points above the 73.5% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The petrol Land Rover Defender is the stronger side of this model on MOT data. Still judge the individual car, but the fuel type is a mild point in its favour. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average petrol Land Rover Defender had covered 95,287 miles at test, against 110,795 for the diesel. That is above average and into the range where cambelts and water pumps are due if they have not already been done, so ask for the service history rather than take the mileage on trust.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Land Rover Defender page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a petrol Land Rover Defender

1. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 6.2% of tests (17.58x the national rate for this defect)
2. A shock absorber bush excessively worn, 1.7% of tests (8.87x the national rate for this defect)
3. Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point, 2% of tests (8.66x the national rate for this defect)
4. An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 3% of tests (6.87x the national rate for this defect)
5. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 3.9% of tests (5.99x the national rate for this defect)
6. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 2% of tests (4.91x the national rate for this defect)
7. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.3% of tests (4.42x the national rate for this defect)
8. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 2.9% of tests (3.1x the national rate for this defect)
9. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 3% of tests (2.43x the national rate for this defect)
10. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 2.3% of tests (2.32x the national rate for this defect)

From 2,218 DVSA-tracked petrol Land Rover Defender tests, 2024, split out from the Land Rover Defender's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 2.71% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a petrol Land Rover Defender

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. A wheel bearing with excessive play, 8% of tests (12.3x the national rate for this defect)
2. Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning, 2.9% of tests (12.13x the national rate for this defect)
3. A seat belt webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened, 3.9% of tests (10.21x the national rate for this defect)
4. A shock absorber bush excessively worn, 4.6% of tests (9.55x the national rate for this defect), also fails
5. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 6.5% of tests (5.25x the national rate for this defect), also fails
6. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 26.7% of tests (4.8x the national rate for this defect)
7. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 6.5% of tests (2.3x the national rate for this defect), also fails
8. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 3% of tests (2.23x the national rate for this defect)
9. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 12.7% of tests (2.05x the national rate for this defect)
10. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 8.7% of tests (1.84x the national rate for this defect)

From 2,218 DVSA-tracked petrol Land Rover Defender tests, 2024.

Other Land Rover Defender fuel types

• Diesel Land Rover Defender - 73.4%

All Land Rover Defender MOT data · Every model