2001 Land Rover Freelander — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 10,391 MOT tests analysed for the 2001 Land Rover Freelander, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 70.2% was below the average for mid-size SUVs of a similar age (71.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 33.3% in the 150k+ group versus 27.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.7% | 1,835 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.1% | 1,777 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.5% | 1,402 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.3% | 966 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 553 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 453 |
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 | 921 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 751 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 629 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 622 |
| 5 | Anti-lock braking system | 621 |
| 6 | Wipers | 517 |
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 | 42.8% | 4,452 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.8% | 2,887 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.9% | 2,382 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.6% | 1,930 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.5% | 1,196 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.5% | 1,096 |
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 | 118 | 27.1% |
| 30-60k | 516 | 21.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,619 | 26.1% |
| 90-120k | 2,432 | 28.3% |
| 120-150k | 2,678 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 2,873 | 33.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,166 | 30.0% |
| Petrol | 3,225 | 29.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,374 | 30.4% |
| 2022 | 2,570 | 29.1% |
| 2023 | 1,913 | 29.2% |
| 2024 | 1,455 | 31.8% |
| 2025 | 1,079 | 28.0% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Freelander
Before buying a 2001 Land Rover Freelander, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 17.7% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (17.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (17.1% 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 (13.5% 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 2001 Land Rover Freelanders pass their MOT?
70.2% of the 10,391 2001 Land Rover Freelander MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Land Rover Freelander?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.7% of tests, followed by brakes (17.1%).
Does the 2001 Freelander get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.1% in the 0-30k band to 33.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,391 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.