2009 Land Rover Defender — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 21,539 MOT tests analysed for the 2009 Land Rover Defender, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 77.9% was in line with the average for large SUVs of a similar age (78.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 24.4% in the 150k+ group versus 13.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 2,890 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.2% | 1,768 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.7% | 1,665 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.3% | 1,571 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.6% | 1,214 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.3% | 928 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,176 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 1,164 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,104 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 855 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 833 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 810 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 28.3% | 6,104 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.2% | 4,779 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 16.1% | 3,465 |
| 4 | Steering | 13.8% | 2,971 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 10.6% | 2,292 |
| 6 | Tyres | 9.9% | 2,136 |
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 | 948 | 13.1% |
| 30-60k | 4,427 | 18.8% |
| 60-90k | 7,038 | 22.4% |
| 90-120k | 5,295 | 24.0% |
| 120-150k | 2,474 | 25.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,345 | 24.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 21,457 | 22.1% |
| Petrol | 82 | 17.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,590 | 22.5% |
| 2022 | 4,348 | 21.5% |
| 2023 | 4,340 | 22.6% |
| 2024 | 4,186 | 22.3% |
| 2025 | 4,075 | 21.5% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Defender
Before buying a 2009 Land Rover Defender, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 13.4% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (13.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.2% 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.
- Suspension (7.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 2009 Land Rover Defenders pass their MOT?
77.9% of the 21,539 2009 Land Rover Defender MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Land Rover Defender?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.4% of tests, followed by brakes (8.2%).
Does the 2009 Defender get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.1% in the 0-30k band to 24.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,539 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.