Used car guide · 1989–2026

Land Rover Range Rover common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Land Rover Range Rover, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 266,742 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 1989 Land Rover Range Rover

Our MOT figures start with cars first registered in 1990. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Land Rover Range Rover as a whole.

258on the UK register at the end of 2025
Dieselmost common fuel (also plug-in hybrid)
What to check on a 1989 car
  • MOT history

    Check the reg below: its MOT history shows what has been failed or advised, and whether the mileage adds up.

  • Service history

    Look for regular servicing and receipts for big jobs like a cambelt or clutch.

  • Finance and write-offs

    MOT records don’t show outstanding finance or insurance write-offs. A history check does.

  • Test drive

    Listen for knocks over bumps, check every warning light goes out, and make sure the gears and brakes feel right.

Other years

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995199419931992199119901989

What usually goes wrong with a Land Rover Range Rover?

Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.

  • Poor reliability

    Cars registered 2013–2022 · All engines

    What Car? says reliability is a big issue on this Range Rover, and running costs, especially for V8s, are very high.

    At the viewing: Get a full specialist inspection, test every electrical item and the air suspension, and check the VIN for outstanding recalls.

    Source: What Car?: used Range Rover (2013-2022) reliability

Common Land Rover Range Rover MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Ball joint dust cover

    up to 5.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    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.

  • Sub-frame bushes

    up to 23.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    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.

  • Transmission oil leaks

    up to 3.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Engine oil leaks

    up to 2.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Anti-lock braking system

    up to 6.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2017.

    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.

Diesel

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017 and 2018.

    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.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 4.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    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.

  • Ball joint dust cover

    up to 9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    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.

  • Sub-frame bushes

    up to 20× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

    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.

  • Sub-frame

    up to 3.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

    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.

  • Track rod ends

    up to 3.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.

    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.

Land Rover Range Rover MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2010 Land Rover Range Rover did best (74% passed first time, 14 points above all 2010 cars) and the 2022 did worst (90%, 1 point above all 2022 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202394%92% +2352 (small sample)
202290%89% +14,177
202190%87% +38,303
202089%87% +210,890
201989%85% +414,693
201888%83% +516,029
201784%80% +416,057
201681%77% +416,121
201583%74% +918,381
201483%70% +1317,324
201379%67% +1227,466
201275%64% +1113,503
201173%62% +1111,542
201074%60% +1410,084
200972%59% +137,853
200871%57% +147,707
200770%57% +1311,142
200668%56% +129,874
200569%57% +128,261
200467%57% +108,223
200367%57% +106,492
200269%58% +114,133
200171%60% +113,689
200072%61% +112,873
199970%63% +72,085
199869%65% +41,961
199770%65% +51,640
199672%66% +61,208
199569%67% +2976
199474%67% +71,123
199374%68% +6973
199276%69% +7543
199177%71% +6562
199075%72% +3502

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Land Rover Range Rover

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

  1. What has gone wrong and been fixed, and is there a full Land Rover history?
  2. Any recent work on the ball joint dust cover? (Flagged at MOT 8.7× as often on the Land Rover Range Rover as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 4.1× as often on the Land Rover Range Rover as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.4× as often on the Land Rover Range Rover as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Land Rover Range Rover?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score