Used car guide

2012 Land Rover Discovery: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Land Rover Discoverys, from 6,501 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

6,501MOT tests in 2025
73%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
9,600typical miles a year
2.7×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Land Rover Discoverys than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.7× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    14.9% All 2012 cars
    5.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 0.8% of all 2012 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.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.9× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    19.5% All 2012 cars
    10.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6%, against 2% of all 2012 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.

  • Prop shaft45× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    4.5% All 2012 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.6%, against 0% of all 2012 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.

  • Flexible brake hoses3.9× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    5.8% All 2012 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.2%, against 0.2% of all 2012 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) joints1.9× usual
    Land Rover Discovery
    8.5% All 2012 cars
    4.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 2.1% of all 2012 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.

Better than most

Tyre condition: 7.2% here, against 14.5% of all 2012 cars. Exhaust system: 0.9% here, against 5.5% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Land Rover Discovery MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    33% 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.

  • Suspension
    31% 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
    27% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    9% of testsRough price £60–£350

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% 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
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%
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%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Land Rover Discoverys registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score