Used car guide

2005 Land Rover Discovery: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2005 Land Rover Discoverys, from 6,812 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

6,812MOT tests in 2025
65%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)
8,200typical miles a year
3.7×the usual rate for steering rack inner joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2005 Land Rover Discoverys than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Steering rack inner joints3.7× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    14.4% All 2005 cars
    3.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2005 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.

  • Chassis rust or damage3.6× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    13% All 2005 cars
    3.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 1% of all 2005 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.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.8× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    19.7% All 2005 cars
    10.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.6%, against 2.3% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Suspension arm2.3× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    9.3% All 2005 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 0.4% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Flexible brake hoses1.8× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    10.2% All 2005 cars
    5.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 1.2% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look for cracked or bulging rubber hoses behind the wheels and in the engine bay.

Better than most

Headlights: 3.4% here, against 14.2% of all 2005 cars. Coil springs: 0.4% here, against 10.8% of all 2005 cars.

By area

The share of 2005 Land Rover Discovery MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    46% 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.

  • Brakes
    38% 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 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.

  • Tyres
    24% 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.

  • Rust and bodywork
    20% 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.

  • Steering
    17% 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.

Looking at a Land Rover Discovery?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
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%
20045,695Suspension 44%
20034,984Suspension 42%
20023,928Suspension 45%
20013,099Suspension 45%
20001,897Suspension 44%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2005 Land Rover Discoverys registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score