Used car guide

2018 Land Rover Discovery Sport: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2018 Land Rover Discovery Sports, from 18,893 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

18,893MOT tests in 2025
82%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%)
8,600typical miles a year
1.6×the usual rate for brake discs

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2018 Land Rover Discovery Sports than on all cars registered in 2018.

  • Brake discs1.6× usual
    Land Rover Discovery Sport
    17.7% All 2018 cars
    10.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.6% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look through the wheel at the brake disc: a deep lip at the edge or heavy scoring means they're worn. Feel for judder when braking.

  • Engine warning light2.6× usual
    Land Rover Discovery Sport
    2.9% All 2018 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, against 1.1% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

By area

The share of 2018 Land Rover Discovery Sport MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    29% 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.

  • 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.

  • Suspension
    8% 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
    7% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    6% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Looking at a Land Rover Discovery Sport?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022878Tyres 27%
20213,228Tyres 25%
202010,967Tyres 28%
201916,788Tyres 30%
201722,773Tyres 28%
201621,722Tyres 27%
201514,873Tyres 29%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2018 Land Rover Discovery Sports registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score