Used car guide

1999 Land Rover Discovery: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1999 Land Rover Discoverys, from 1,758 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,758MOT tests in 2025
67%pass first time (all 1999 cars: 65%)
6,000typical miles a year
3.4×the usual rate for chassis rust or damage

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1999 Land Rover Discoverys than on all cars registered in 1999.

  • Chassis rust or damage3.4× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    19.9% All 1999 cars
    5.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.8%, against 2% of all 1999 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.

  • Engine oil leaks1.7× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    26.7% All 1999 cars
    15.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.3% of all 1999 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.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.7× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    10.1% All 1999 cars
    3.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 1.2% of all 1999 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Windscreen2.2× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    8.5% All 1999 cars
    3.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.1% of all 1999 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£300 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check for chips or cracks in the driver's view.

  • Number plate lights1.9× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    9.9% All 1999 cars
    5.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.6%, against 1.2% of all 1999 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

Better than most

Braking performance: 3.2% here, against 7.1% of all 1999 cars. Drive shaft (CV) joints: 2.4% here, against 5.1% of all 1999 cars.

By area

The share of 1999 Land Rover Discovery MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    43% 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
    34% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    31% 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
    27% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    15% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a Land Rover Discovery?

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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%
1998993Lights and electrics 38%
1997921Lights and electrics 37%
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 1999 Land Rover Discoverys registered in 1999. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score