2020 Land Rover Defender: common problems and what to check
What gets flagged at MOT on 2020 Land Rover Defenders, from 3,926 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.
What gets flagged at MOT
The share of 2020 Land Rover Defender MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.
- Tyres18% 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.
- Brakes16% 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.
- Lights and electrics5% of testsRough price £10–£80
At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
- Wipers, windscreen and mirrors5% of testsRough price £15–£250
At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.
- Suspension2% 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.
- Seats and seatbelts2% of testsRough price £80–£250
At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.
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Other years
| Year | MOT tests | Most flagged |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 9,421 | Tyres 16% |
| 2021 | 8,189 | Tyres 16% |
| 2016 | 1,766 | Lights and electrics 15% |
| 2015 | 6,477 | Lights and electrics 21% |
| 2014 | 5,687 | Lights and electrics 25% |
| 2013 | 4,240 | Lights and electrics 26% |
| 2012 | 3,781 | Suspension 28% |
| 2011 | 3,869 | Suspension 31% |
| 2010 | 3,826 | Suspension 33% |
| 2009 | 3,347 | Suspension 33% |
| 2008 | 3,601 | Suspension 35% |
| 2007 | 3,833 | Suspension 38% |
| 2006 | 3,676 | Suspension 37% |
| 2005 | 4,057 | Suspension 38% |
| 2004 | 4,136 | Suspension 39% |
| 2003 | 4,236 | Suspension 40% |
| 2002 | 3,706 | Suspension 39% |
| 2001 | 3,012 | Suspension 37% |
| 2000 | 2,890 | Suspension 39% |
Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2020 Land Rover Defenders registered in 2020. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score