Used car guide

2008 Land Rover Defender: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Land Rover Defenders, from 3,601 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,601MOT tests in 2025
68%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
5,600typical miles a year
7.7×the usual rate for seat belts

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Land Rover Defenders than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Seat belts7.7× usual
    Land Rover Defender
    13.1% All 2008 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.5%, against 0.6% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock and retract smoothly.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.1× usual
    Land Rover Defender
    20.5% All 2008 cars
    9.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.1%, against 1.5% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Transmission oil leaks5.8× usual
    Land Rover Defender
    8.1% All 2008 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Wheel bearings3.4× usual
    Land Rover Defender
    8.8% All 2008 cars
    2.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 1% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

  • Steering box57× usual
    Land Rover Defender
    5.7% All 2008 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 0% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

Better than most

Tread depth: 4.1% here, against 22.5% of all 2008 cars. Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.1% here, against 11.3% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 Land Rover Defender MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    35% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    33% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    32% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    20% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Steering
    12% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

  • Tyres
    11% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20229,421Tyres 16%
20218,189Tyres 16%
20203,926Tyres 18%
20161,766Lights and electrics 15%
20156,477Lights and electrics 21%
20145,687Lights and electrics 25%
20134,240Lights and electrics 26%
20123,781Suspension 28%
20113,869Suspension 31%
20103,826Suspension 33%
20093,347Suspension 33%
20073,833Suspension 38%
20063,676Suspension 37%
20054,057Suspension 38%
20044,136Suspension 39%
20034,236Suspension 40%
20023,706Suspension 39%
20013,012Suspension 37%
20002,890Suspension 39%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Land Rover Defenders registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score