Used car guide

2009 Land Rover Discovery: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2009 Land Rover Discoverys, from 4,784 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

4,784MOT tests in 2025
67%pass first time (all 2009 cars: 58%)
9,100typical miles a year
1.7×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2009 Land Rover Discoverys than on all cars registered in 2009.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.7× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    18.8% All 2009 cars
    11.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.5%, against 2.3% of all 2009 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.

  • Rigid brake pipes1.9× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    14.2% All 2009 cars
    7.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 1.2% of all 2009 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.

  • Flexible brake hoses3.2× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    9.5% All 2009 cars
    3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 0.4% of all 2009 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.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.2× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    11.8% All 2009 cars
    5.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.3%, against 2.4% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Chassis rust or damage4.6× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    7.9% All 2009 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 0.5% of all 2009 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.

Better than most

Tyre condition: 7% here, against 15.6% of all 2009 cars. Shock absorbers: 0.6% here, against 7.5% of all 2009 cars.

By area

The share of 2009 Land Rover Discovery MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    37% 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
    36% 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
    30% 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
    26% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    12% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Rust and bodywork
    12% 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.

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%
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%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2009 Land Rover Discoverys registered in 2009. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score