2015 Land Rover Discovery: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2015 Land Rover Discovery?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2015 Land Rover Discovery than on all cars registered in 2015.

• Rigid brake pipes6× usual
  Land Rover Discovery

  11.9% All 2015 cars

  2%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 0.3% of all 2015 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.

• Suspension arm bushes and joints2.2× usual
  Land Rover Discovery

  12.9% All 2015 cars

  5.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 1.2% of all 2015 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.

• Number plate lights2.7× usual
  Land Rover Discovery

  9.5% All 2015 cars

  3.5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, against 1.1% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

  At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

• Prop shaftnull× usual
  Land Rover Discovery

  4% All 2015 cars

  0%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 0% of all 2015 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.

• Seat belts4× usual
  Land Rover Discovery

  2.8% All 2015 cars

  0.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.3% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

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

Common 2015 Land Rover Discovery MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2015 Land Rover Discovery MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Brakes
  27% 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
  22% 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
  20% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

• Suspension
  17% 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
  5% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

• Oil and fluid leaks
  4% 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.

Known faults on the 2015 Land Rover Discovery

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Water leaks from blocked sunroof drains

  Cars with a sunroof

  Blocked sunroof drains overflow into the headlining and down into the front footwells.

  At the viewing: Feel the front carpets for damp and look for water marks on the headlining.

  Source: Haynes: Land Rover Discovery 4 (2009-2016) common problems

• Air suspension and air con sensors

  All engines

  Ride-height sensors and air con sensors can fail, and the air con compressor and pipes can go too.

  At the viewing: Watch the car rise and settle evenly on its suspension, and check the air con blows cold.

  Source: Haynes: Land Rover Discovery 4 (2009-2016) common problems

• Electronic parking brake not holding

  All engines

  Dirt and brake dust around the electronic parking brake can stop it working or holding the car.

  At the viewing: Apply the parking brake on a slope and make sure it holds and releases cleanly.

  Source: Haynes: Land Rover Discovery 4 (2009-2016) common problems

• Oil leaks from the engine and gearbox

  All engines

  Oil leaks from the engine and gearbox are fairly common.

  At the viewing: Look underneath and on the ground where it’s been parked for fresh oil.

  Source: Haynes: Land Rover Discovery 4 (2009-2016) common problems

• Electrical faults

  All engines

  Central locking, one-touch windows and the rear wiper can play up, often after the battery has gone flat.

  At the viewing: Test the locks on every door, every window and the rear wiper.

  Source: Haynes: Land Rover Discovery 4 (2009-2016) common problems

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2015 Land Rover Discovery

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 6× as often on the 2015 Land Rover Discovery as on other cars the same age.)
2. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 2015 Land Rover Discovery as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the number plate lights? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the 2015 Land Rover Discovery as on other cars the same age.)
4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?