Used car guide

2008 Land Rover Freelander: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Land Rover Freelanders, from 9,907 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

9,907MOT tests in 2025
60%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
8,100typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for sub-frame

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Land Rover Freelanders than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Sub-frame2× usual
    Land Rover Freelander
    15.8% All 2008 cars
    7.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, against 0.4% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Individual direction indicators2.4× usual
    Land Rover Freelander
    7.4% All 2008 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 1.3% of all 2008 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.

  • Track rod ends1.7× usual
    Land Rover Freelander
    9.3% All 2008 cars
    5.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.8%, against 2.5% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Handbrake cables11.3× usual
    Land Rover Freelander
    3.4% All 2008 cars
    0.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.1% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£300 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull the handbrake on a slope. It should hold the car within a few clicks.

Better than most

Headlights: 2.3% here, against 10.7% of all 2008 cars. Exhaust system: 1.8% here, against 9% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 Land Rover Freelander MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    51% 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
    32% 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
    27% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    16% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Rust and bodywork
    10% 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 Freelander?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
201411,526Suspension 24%
201312,998Suspension 35%
201210,306Suspension 38%
201112,058Suspension 38%
201013,462Suspension 44%
20099,346Suspension 46%
200712,298Suspension 53%
20064,995Suspension 53%
20054,447Suspension 52%
20043,597Brakes 51%
20032,254Brakes 52%
20021,682Suspension 51%
2001849Brakes 48%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Land Rover Freelanders registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score