Used car guide

1997 Land Rover Discovery: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1997 Land Rover Discoverys, from 921 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

921MOT tests in 2025
70%pass first time (all 1997 cars: 67%)
5,500typical miles a year
1.7×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1997 Land Rover Discoverys than on all cars registered in 1997.

  • Engine oil leaks1.7× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    30.1% All 1997 cars
    17.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.4% of all 1997 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.

  • Chassis rust or damage2.7× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    16.5% All 1997 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.8%, against 2.1% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Wheel bearings2.3× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    15.4% All 1997 cars
    6.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 1.1% of all 1997 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.

  • Rust in key structural areas3× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    7.3% All 1997 cars
    2.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.6%, against 1.6% of all 1997 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 cleanly.

  • Battery2.2× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    4.3% All 1997 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.5% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the car starts cleanly and there are no warning lights once running.

Better than most

Tread depth: 3.4% here, against 9.3% of all 1997 cars. Braking performance: 2.4% here, against 6.8% of all 1997 cars.

By area

The share of 1997 Land Rover Discovery MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    37% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    33% 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.

  • Rust and bodywork
    27% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Brakes
    25% 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.

  • Tyres
    14% 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
2023248Tyres 12%
20226,506Tyres 23%
20219,483Tyres 23%
20206,220Tyres 21%
20197,897Tyres 21%
20188,459Tyres 21%
20179,742Brakes 23%
20169,594Brakes 25%
20159,047Brakes 28%
20147,308Brakes 31%
20136,193Brakes 32%
20126,501Brakes 33%
20115,735Brakes 35%
20105,957Suspension 35%
20094,784Suspension 37%
20084,329Suspension 42%
20075,693Suspension 43%
20066,616Suspension 47%
20056,812Suspension 46%
20045,695Suspension 44%
20034,984Suspension 42%
20023,928Suspension 45%
20013,099Suspension 45%
20001,897Suspension 44%
19991,758Suspension 43%
1998993Lights and electrics 38%
1996791Lights and electrics 37%
1995710Lights and electrics 37%
1994553Oil and fluid leaks 38%
1993308Oil and fluid leaks 36%
1992139Lights and electrics 30%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1997 Land Rover Discoverys registered in 1997. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score