2000 Land Rover Discovery — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 16,530 MOT tests analysed for the 2000 Land Rover Discovery, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 74.8% was in line with the average for large SUVs of a similar age (75.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 25.6% in the 150k+ group versus 7.9% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 2,608 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.1% | 2,331 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.5% | 1,893 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.3% | 1,702 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.3% | 872 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.1% | 837 |
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 | 1,439 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,113 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,085 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 1,046 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 828 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 814 |
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 | 33.6% | 5,549 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 29.5% | 4,884 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 26.7% | 4,414 |
| 4 | Brakes | 24.3% | 4,020 |
| 5 | Steering | 15.8% | 2,618 |
| 6 | Tyres | 13.8% | 2,285 |
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 | 38 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 158 | 17.1% |
| 60-90k | 721 | 23.0% |
| 90-120k | 2,205 | 23.4% |
| 120-150k | 4,319 | 26.1% |
| 150k+ | 9,052 | 25.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 15,470 | 25.1% |
| Petrol | 1,060 | 27.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,470 | 27.0% |
| 2022 | 3,889 | 25.2% |
| 2023 | 3,234 | 24.3% |
| 2024 | 2,686 | 24.8% |
| 2025 | 2,251 | 23.8% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Discovery
Before buying a 2000 Land Rover Discovery, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 15.8% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (15.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.1% 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 (11.5% 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 2000 Land Rover Discoverys pass their MOT?
74.8% of the 16,530 2000 Land Rover Discovery MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Land Rover Discovery?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.8% of tests, followed by suspension (14.1%).
Does the 2000 Discovery get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 25.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,530 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.