2020 Land Rover Discovery S Auto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 574 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Land Rover Discovery S Auto, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 90.2% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (90.6%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.1% | 29 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.7% | 27 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 13 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.1% | 6 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 4 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 32 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 10 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 9 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 3 |
| 5 | Side repeaters | 3 |
| 6 | Headlamp levelling device | 2 |
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 | 15.5% | 89 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.2% | 64 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.3% | 42 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.3% | 42 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 20 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 4 |
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 | 337 | 8.9% |
| 30-60k | 219 | 11.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 193 | 9.8% |
| 2024 | 190 | 10.5% |
| 2025 | 186 | 9.1% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Discovery S Auto
Before buying a 2020 Land Rover Discovery S Auto, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.1% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (5.1% 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.
- Visibility (4.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Lighting & signalling (2.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2020 Land Rover Discovery S Autos pass their MOT?
90.2% of the 574 2020 Land Rover Discovery S Auto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Land Rover Discovery S Auto?
Tyres, recorded in 5.1% of tests, followed by visibility (4.7%).
Does the 2020 Discovery S Auto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.9% in the 0-30k band to 11.0% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 574 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.