Used car guide

2003 Land Rover Range Rover: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2003 Land Rover Range Rovers, from 1,597 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,597MOT tests in 2025
70%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 59%)
6,400typical miles a year
3.2×the usual rate for sub-frame

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2003 Land Rover Range Rovers than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Sub-frame3.2× usual
    Land Rover Range Rover
    18.1% All 2003 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 0.3% of all 2003 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.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.2× usual
    Land Rover Range Rover
    19.2% All 2003 cars
    8.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.4%, against 1.8% of all 2003 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.

  • Sub-frame bushes8× usual
    Land Rover Range Rover
    4.8% All 2003 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0% of all 2003 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.

  • Body structure rust or damage2.3× usual
    Land Rover Range Rover
    7.9% All 2003 cars
    3.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 1% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath and along the sills for flaky rust or fresh underseal hiding it.

Better than most

Headlights: 2.2% here, against 12.1% of all 2003 cars. Exhaust system: 2.6% here, against 9.7% of all 2003 cars.

By area

The share of 2003 Land Rover Range Rover MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    50% 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
    39% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    25% 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.

  • 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    22% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Rust and bodywork
    16% 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.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20224,884Tyres 21%
20213,203Tyres 17%
20203,537Tyres 19%
20194,778Tyres 20%
20185,252Tyres 19%
20175,310Brakes 21%
20165,338Brakes 23%
20156,042Tyres 21%
20145,624Brakes 24%
20138,949Tyres 26%
20124,403Suspension 37%
20113,693Suspension 43%
20103,189Suspension 43%
20092,472Suspension 43%
20082,318Suspension 49%
20073,256Suspension 48%
20062,832Suspension 49%
20052,356Suspension 47%
20042,155Suspension 51%
20021,062Suspension 46%
20011,090Suspension 37%
2000839Suspension 41%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2003 Land Rover Range Rovers registered in 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score