Used car guide

2016 Land Rover Defender petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Land Rover Defender first registered in 2016 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 135 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 135 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

135MOTs of 2016 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
86%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 77%)
2,000typical miles a year
10%had lights and electrics flagged

Common 2016 Land Rover Defender petrol MOT failures and advisories

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

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

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

  • 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    6% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

  • Brakes
    5% 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.

  • Suspension
    4% 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.

  • 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 2016 Land Rover Defender petrol

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.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2016 Land Rover Defender petrol

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

  1. Have all the recalls been done, including the axle tube and hub bolts?
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Land Rover Defender?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Land Rover Defender compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023529Tyres 6%
202210,198Tyres 16%
202116,997Tyres 16%
202012,258Tyres 17%
2019–Too few tests
201519,425Brakes 20%
201417,079Lights and electrics 23%
201312,768Lights and electrics 25%
201211,292Brakes 28%
201111,607Suspension 30%
201011,558Suspension 33%
200910,166Suspension 33%
200810,865Suspension 35%
200711,617Suspension 37%
200611,038Suspension 37%
200512,200Suspension 38%
200412,447Suspension 38%
200312,858Suspension 40%
200211,282Suspension 39%
20019,161Suspension 37%
20008,745Suspension 39%
19998,812Suspension 38%
199810,222Lights and electrics 38%
19979,899Lights and electrics 38%
199610,182Lights and electrics 39%
19958,462Lights and electrics 40%
19946,802Lights and electrics 40%
19935,523Lights and electrics 37%
19924,355Lights and electrics 37%
19914,994Lights and electrics 39%
19904,751Lights and electrics 37%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Land Rover Defender cars first registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score