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Land Rover Discovery Sport reliability

B · Good

MOT pass rates and common problems from 708,489 MOT tests of cars first registered 2015–2021.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
82.2%pass first time
+1.9 ptsvs typical car
Beats 65%of cars
708,489MOT tests

Verdict

The Land Rover Discovery Sport passes its MOT first time on 82.2% of tests, 1.9 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (80.3%). That puts it ahead of 65% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2015 Discovery Sport does best (beats 86% of cars) and the 2020 worst (beats 19%).

Of its engines, the 2.2 Diesel does best (beats 88%) and the 2.0 Petrol worst (beats 36%).

Better than average on suspension, body & structure.

Watch these weak spots

Emissions & leaks1.4×as often as a typical car
Windscreen wipers1.5×as often as a typical car
Rear fog light4.3×as often as a typical car
Engine warning light1.8×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

65%70%75%80%85%90%3456789101184%83%83%83%82%81%79%79%79%
Land Rover Discovery SportTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

2015
Beats 86%
2016
Beats 72%
2017
Beats 63%
2018
Beats 50%
2019
Beats 33%
2020
Beats 19%
2021
Beats 13%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel2015–2021601,67682.1%Beats 62%B
2.2 Diesel2015–201576,48482.2%Beats 88%A
2.0 Petrol2017–202130,32984.4%Beats 36%D

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: 2.1% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 1.4% of tests fail on suspension, against 3.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 4.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 5.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 5.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 3.3% of tests fail on brakes, against 3.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 4.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 5.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+0.8 ptsTyres: 5.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+0.5 ptsBrakes: 3.3% of tests fail on brakes, against 3.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+0.6 ptsSuspension: 1.4% of tests fail on suspension, against 3.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+2.1 ptsExhaust: 2.1% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust−0.6 ptsSuspension: 1.4% of tests fail on suspension, against 3.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 3.3% of tests fail on brakes, against 3.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 5.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 4.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 5.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 2.1% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 4.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 5.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+0.8 ptsTyres: 5.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+0.5 ptsBrakes: 3.3% of tests fail on brakes, against 3.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+0.6 ptsSuspension: 1.4% of tests fail on suspension, against 3.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+2.1 ptsExhaust: 2.1% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust−0.6 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Exhaust: 2.1% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Tyres
5.7% vs 6.1%
Lights & electrics
4.7% vs 5.5%
Visibility
4.0% vs 3.6%
Brakes
3.3% vs 3.9%
Emissions & leaks
2.1% vs 1.5%
Suspension
1.4% vs 3.6%
Body & structure
0.4% vs 1.1%
Seat belts & airbags
0.2% vs 0.4%
Wheels
0.2% vs 0.3%
Steering
0.1% vs 0.7%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Windscreen wipers 1.5× typical
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
  • Engine warning light 1.8× typical
    The engine warning light should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts. If it stays on, get the fault codes read before you buy.
  • Tyre damage & cracking
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Brake pads
    Ask when the pads were last replaced and look for a brake-wear warning on the dash.
  • Headlight aim
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
  • Tyre tread depth
    Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

60%70%80%90%100%0k10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k110k120k130k140k93%86%83%81%78%76%77%73%
Land Rover Discovery SportTypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Tyre damage & cracking4.3%3.4%1.2×
Windscreen wipers3.1%2.0%1.5×
Brake pads2.4%2.1%1.1×
Headlight aim1.8%1.9%0.9×
Engine warning light1.7%1.0%1.8×
Tyre tread depth1.3%2.3%0.5×
Rear fog light1.1%0.3%4.3×
Headlight bulbs & units0.9%1.0%0.8×
Windscreen washers0.9%1.5%0.6×
Brake discs0.7%0.6%1.3×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen30.8
A tyre seriously damaged30.1
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm20.0
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements18.1
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction17.4
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements12.7
A tyre cords visible or damaged12.2
An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning10.2
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2021 Land Rover Discovery Sport2 engines83.0% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel5,27982.3%Beats 12%E
2.0 Petrol3,48084.1%Beats 15%E
2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport2 engines83.0% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel35,25082.6%Beats 18%E
2.0 Petrol6,51785.0%Beats 25%D
2019 Land Rover Discovery Sport2 engines82.3% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel73,07582.1%Beats 33%D
2.0 Petrol8,52683.6%Beats 26%D
2018 Land Rover Discovery Sport2 engines82.4% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel101,43082.2%Beats 49%C
2.0 Petrol9,64084.9%Beats 54%C
2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport2 engines82.3% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel154,90082.3%Beats 63%B
2.0 Petrol2,16684.6%Beats 63%B
2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport1 engine81.6% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel173,86681.6%Beats 72%B
2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport2 engines82.3% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.2 Diesel76,48482.2%Beats 88%A
2.0 Diesel57,87682.3%Beats 84%A

FAQ

What is the Land Rover Discovery Sport MOT pass rate?

82.2% of MOT tests on the Land Rover Discovery Sport were passed first time, based on 708,489 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2015–2021. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 80.3% of the time.

Is the Land Rover Discovery Sport reliable?

On MOT results it rates B (good): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 65% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Land Rover Discovery Sport year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2015 Discovery Sport does best for its age and mileage: it beats 86% of cars on UK roads. The 2020 does worst: it beats 19%.

Which Land Rover Discovery Sport engine is best?

Across all years, the 2.2 Diesel does best: it beats 88% of cars on UK roads. The 2.0 Petrol does worst: it beats 36%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Land Rover Discovery Sport?

The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, windscreen wipers, brake pads. Compared with similar cars, windscreen wipers comes up 1.5× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.