2021 Land Rover Discovery S D 4X2 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 869 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Land Rover Discovery S D 4X2, the most common recorded failure areas were visibility, tyres and emissions & environmental. Its pass rate of 85.2% was below the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 30.0% in the 60-90k group versus 13.2% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 8.1% | 70 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.7% | 58 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 29 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.2% | 28 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 20 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.1% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 68 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 30 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 29 |
| 4 | Brake discs | 21 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 16 |
| 6 | Washers | 15 |
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 | 23.1% | 201 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.1% | 201 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.4% | 64 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.3% | 55 |
| 5 | Suspension | 5.3% | 46 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 11 |
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 | 380 | 13.2% |
| 30-60k | 458 | 15.3% |
| 60-90k | 30 | 30.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 425 | 15.5% |
| 2025 | 440 | 14.1% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Discovery S D 4X2
Before buying a 2021 Land Rover Discovery S D 4X2, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Visibility accounted for 8.1% of tests for this year.
- Visibility (8.1% 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.
- Tyres (6.7% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (3.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Discovery S D 4X2s pass their MOT?
85.2% of the 869 2021 Land Rover Discovery S D 4X2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Land Rover Discovery S D 4X2?
Visibility, recorded in 8.1% of tests, followed by tyres (6.7%).
Does the 2021 Discovery S D 4X2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.2% in the 0-30k band to 30.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 869 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.