Used car guide

2021 Land Rover Discovery Sport: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Land Rover Discovery Sports, from 3,228 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,228MOT tests in 2025
83%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
8,800typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for brake discs

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2021 Land Rover Discovery Sports than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Brake discs1.9× usual
    Land Rover Discovery Sport
    13.7% All 2021 cars
    7.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.3% of all 2021 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.

  • Wipers2.1× usual
    Land Rover Discovery Sport
    8% All 2021 cars
    3.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.5%, against 2.4% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

  • Shock absorbers2.1× usual
    Land Rover Discovery Sport
    3.5% All 2021 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.3% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

By area

The share of 2021 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
    25% 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
    21% 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
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Suspension
    6% 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
    4% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

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

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

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022878Tyres 27%
202010,967Tyres 28%
201916,788Tyres 30%
201818,893Tyres 29%
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 2021 Land Rover Discovery Sports registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score