Used car guide

2005 Land Rover Range Rover Sport: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2005 Land Rover Range Rover Sports, from 2,837 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,837MOT tests in 2025
68%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)
7,100typical miles a year
3.3×the usual rate for chassis rust or damage

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2005 Land Rover Range Rover Sports than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Chassis rust or damage3.3× usual
    Land Rover Range Rover Sport
    11.8% All 2005 cars
    3.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 1% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Suspension arm2.3× usual
    Land Rover Range Rover Sport
    9.6% All 2005 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 0.4% of all 2005 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.

  • Prop shaft14.5× usual
    Land Rover Range Rover Sport
    2.9% All 2005 cars
    0.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 0.1% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 5.5% here, against 14.5% of all 2005 cars. Exhaust system: 2.1% here, against 9.4% of all 2005 cars.

By area

The share of 2005 Land Rover Range Rover Sport MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    38% 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
    36% 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
    32% 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
    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.

  • Rust and bodywork
    17% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    10% 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
20221,639Tyres 19%
20212,885Tyres 20%
20206,894Tyres 21%
201911,086Tyres 22%
201810,701Tyres 20%
201710,150Brakes 22%
201610,641Suspension 24%
201510,606Brakes 25%
20148,397Brakes 25%
20136,127Brakes 29%
20125,605Brakes 32%
20114,856Brakes 32%
20104,895Brakes 34%
20093,870Brakes 36%
20083,656Brakes 36%
20074,300Brakes 37%
20064,682Brakes 38%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2005 Land Rover Range Rover Sports registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score