Used car guide

2016 Land Rover Range Rover: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 Land Rover Range Rovers, from 5,338 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

5,338MOT tests in 2025
81%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
8,900typical miles a year
6.9×the usual rate for ball joint dust cover

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2016 Land Rover Range Rovers than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Ball joint dust cover6.9× usual
    Land Rover Range Rover
    11.7% All 2016 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 0.6% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Rigid brake pipes3.2× usual
    Land Rover Range Rover
    6% All 2016 cars
    1.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.2%, against 0.2% of all 2016 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.

  • Airbag warning light12× usual
    Land Rover Range Rover
    2.4% All 2016 cars
    0.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 0.2% of all 2016 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.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints1.8× usual
    Land Rover Range Rover
    3.5% All 2016 cars
    1.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.5%, against 1.1% of all 2016 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

Shock absorbers: 1.5% here, against 4.3% of all 2016 cars.

By area

The share of 2016 Land Rover Range Rover MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    23% 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.

  • Tyres
    21% 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.

  • Suspension
    20% 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.

  • 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    5% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Driveshafts and joints
    4% of testsRough price £60–£350

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

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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%
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%
20031,597Suspension 50%
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 2016 Land Rover Range Rovers registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score