MOT fail rates by first-use year
2008 Land Rover Discovery MOT fail rate and common faults
How Land Rover Discovery cars first used in 2008 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 20,681 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 17 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 17 years old, Land Rover Discovery cars first used in 2008 failed 34.9% of MOTs (4,356 tests), 8.2 points below the 43.1% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 14 to 17 years old, the fail rate moved from 35.0% to 34.9%.
- Land Rover Discovery cars first used a year earlier, in 2007, failed 36.6% at the same age of 17 years (6,596 tests, in 2024).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Land Rover Discovery at 17 years, is suspension arm bush worn, at 6.2 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 2.2).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 14 years | 35.0% | 5,919 | 40.3% | −5.2 pts |
| 2023 | 15 years | 35.3% | 5,487 | 41.6% | −6.3 pts |
| 2024 | 16 years | 34.4% | 4,919 | 42.6% | −8.1 pts |
| 2025 | 17 years | 34.9% | 4,356 | 43.1% | −8.2 pts |
Most common faults at 17 years
These figures cover all Land Rover Discovery MOTs at 17 years: cars first used 2005 to 2008, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=29,254). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
MOT fail items
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Side/position light not working Wear | 6.4 | 5.8 |
| Suspension arm bush worn | 6.2 | 2.2 |
| Brake light not working Wear | 4.9 | 4.0 |
| Driveshaft CV boot split | 2.9 | 3.2 |
| Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded | 2.5 | 1.9 |
| Brake pads under 1.5 mm Wear | 2.4 | 1.9 |
| Steering track rod end: ball joint play | 2.3 | 1.9 |
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear | 2.0 | 3.0 |
| Anti-roll bar link worn | 1.9 | 1.5 |
| Headlamp aim: too low Wear | 1.9 | 1.7 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=29,254). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 17.2 | 17.9 |
| Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement | 16.1 | 8.7 |
| Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s) | 14.1 | 3.4 |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | 12.2 | 10.5 |
| Brake pads wearing thin Wear | 8.3 | 6.6 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 8.1 | 11.3 |
| Flexible brake hoses: has slight corrosion to ferrule | 7.5 | 2.3 |
| Chassis condition: is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced | 6.1 | 1.3 |
| Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated | 6.0 | 3.9 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 5.9 | 11.7 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=29,254). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 17 years
These figures cover all Land Rover Discovery MOTs at 17 years: cars first used 2005 to 2008, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=29,254). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Fuel | Share of tests | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars, same fuel | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 98.7% | 36.6% | 28,823 | 43.2% | 152,028 miles |
Fail rate by mileage at 17 years
These figures cover all Land Rover Discovery MOTs at 17 years: cars first used 2005 to 2008, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=29,254). At 17 years, Land Rover Discovery cars at over 150,000 miles failed more often (38.0%, n=15,138) than those at 60,000 to 90,000 miles (29.2%, n=1,173). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Mileage at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60,000 to 90,000 miles | 29.2% | 1,173 | 41.7% |
| 90,000 to 120,000 miles | 35.1% | 4,050 | 46.2% |
| 120,000 to 150,000 miles | 37.5% | 8,288 | 47.1% |
| Over 150,000 miles | 38.0% | 15,138 | 46.5% |
Car tax rules for a 2008 car
- Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.
These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check
ULEZ and clean air zones
- Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2008 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
- The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.
The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker
Other years of the Land Rover Discovery
Other Land Rover models first used in 2008
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land Rover Freelander (2008) | 17 years in 2025 | 39.6% | 9,951 | 43.1% |
| Land Rover Range Rover Sport (2008) | 17 years in 2025 | 31.2% | 3,692 | 43.1% |
| Land Rover Defender (2008) | 17 years in 2025 | 31.2% | 3,624 | 43.1% |
| Land Rover Range Rover (2008) | 17 years in 2025 | 29.3% | 2,341 | 43.1% |
More on the Land Rover Discovery
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2008 Land Rover Discovery cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources
Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.