2021 Land Rover Defender Xdynamic Hse D Mhev A — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,448 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Land Rover Defender Xdynamic Hse D Mhev A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 93.5% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.5% | 36 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 31 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.4% | 20 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.9% | 13 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.6% | 9 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 22 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 15 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 14 |
| 4 | Washers | 9 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 9 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 8 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 15.8% | 229 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.2% | 162 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.7% | 68 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.1% | 45 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 6 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 6 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 450 | 4.0% |
| 30-60k | 859 | 7.6% |
| 60-90k | 130 | 7.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 692 | 5.9% |
| 2025 | 734 | 7.1% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Defender Xdynamic Hse D Mhev A
Before buying a 2021 Land Rover Defender Xdynamic Hse D Mhev A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 2.5% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (2.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (2.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2021 Land Rover Defender Xdynamic Hse D Mhev As pass their MOT?
93.5% of the 1,448 2021 Land Rover Defender Xdynamic Hse D Mhev A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Land Rover Defender Xdynamic Hse D Mhev A?
Tyres, recorded in 2.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.1%).
Does the 2021 Defender Xdynamic Hse D Mhev A get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.0% in the 0-30k band to 7.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,448 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.