1999 Land Rover Discovery — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 14,646 MOT tests analysed for the 1999 Land Rover Discovery, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 74.9% was in line with the average for large SUVs of a similar age (75.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 25.6% in the 150k+ group versus 19.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 2,395 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.1% | 1,916 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.4% | 1,664 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.8% | 1,582 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.4% | 787 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.9% | 714 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chassis condition | 1,258 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,018 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 982 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 807 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 800 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 736 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 34.0% | 4,977 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 30.0% | 4,398 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 26.1% | 3,820 |
| 4 | Brakes | 24.4% | 3,574 |
| 5 | Steering | 15.2% | 2,223 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 1,967 |
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 | 47 | 19.1% |
| 30-60k | 163 | 17.8% |
| 60-90k | 838 | 23.4% |
| 90-120k | 2,023 | 24.3% |
| 120-150k | 3,420 | 25.3% |
| 150k+ | 8,124 | 25.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 13,301 | 25.0% |
| Petrol | 1,338 | 26.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,943 | 26.7% |
| 2022 | 3,476 | 26.3% |
| 2023 | 2,799 | 23.6% |
| 2024 | 2,339 | 24.3% |
| 2025 | 2,089 | 23.0% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Discovery
Before buying a 1999 Land Rover Discovery, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 16.4% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (16.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.1% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.4% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1999 Land Rover Discoverys pass their MOT?
74.9% of the 14,646 1999 Land Rover Discovery MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Land Rover Discovery?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by suspension (13.1%).
Does the 1999 Discovery get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.1% in the 0-30k band to 25.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,646 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.