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Land Rover Freelander reliability

B · Good

MOT pass rates and common problems from 1.2 million MOT tests of cars first registered 1998–2014.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
66.3%pass first time
+7.1 ptsvs typical car
Beats 76%of cars
1.2MMOT tests

Verdict

The Land Rover Freelander passes its MOT first time on 66.3% of tests, 7.1 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (59.2%). That puts it ahead of 76% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2011 Freelander does best (beats 95% of cars) and the 2005 worst (beats 48%).

Of its engines, the 2.2 Diesel does best (beats 87%) and the 1.8 Petrol worst (beats 41%).

Better than average on suspension, tyres, body & structure.

Watch these weak spots

Steering1.6×as often as a typical car
Track rod ends1.8×as often as a typical car
Decelerometer (sp)14.8×as often as a typical car
Anti-roll bar links1.7×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.

40%50%60%70%80%90%456789101112131415161718192082%82%79%75%70%62%57%54%52%
Land Rover FreelanderTypical 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.

1998
Beats 34%
1999
Beats 34%
2000
Beats 45%
2001
Beats 47%
2002
Beats 52%
2003
Beats 51%
2004
Beats 52%
2005
Beats 48%
2006
Beats 51%
2007
Beats 78%
2008
Beats 82%
2009
Beats 90%
2010
Beats 87%
2011
Beats 95%
2012
Beats 92%
2013
Beats 87%
2014
Beats 89%

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
2.2 Diesel2004–2014855,19672.0%Beats 87%A
2.0 Diesel1998–2011291,17552.7%Beats 52%C
1.8 Petrol1998–200554,20950.8%Beats 41%C
2.5 Petrol2001–20043,57558.3%Beats 61%B
3.2 Petrol2007–20072,91968.9%Beats 91%A

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: 2.3% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 5.4% 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: 11.0% of tests fail on suspension, against 15.5% 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: 15.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 19.2% 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: 4.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.9% 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: 11.2% of tests fail on brakes, against 11.2% 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: 15.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 19.2% 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+3.6 ptsTyres: 4.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.9% 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+3.4 ptsBrakes: 11.2% of tests fail on brakes, against 11.2% 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.Brakes0.0 ptsSuspension: 11.0% of tests fail on suspension, against 15.5% 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+4.6 ptsExhaust: 2.3% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 5.4% 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+3.1 ptsSuspension: 11.0% of tests fail on suspension, against 15.5% 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: 11.2% of tests fail on brakes, against 11.2% 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: 4.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.9% 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: 15.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 19.2% 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: 2.3% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 5.4% 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: 15.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 19.2% 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+3.6 ptsTyres: 4.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.9% 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+3.4 ptsBrakes: 11.2% of tests fail on brakes, against 11.2% 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.Brakes0.0 ptsSuspension: 11.0% of tests fail on suspension, against 15.5% 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+4.6 ptsExhaust: 2.3% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 5.4% 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+3.1 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Brakes: 11.2% of tests fail on brakes, against 11.2% 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.

Every MOT area

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

Lights & electrics
15.7% vs 19.2%
Brakes
11.2% vs 11.2%
Suspension
11.0% vs 15.5%
Steering
5.3% vs 3.4%
Tyres
4.6% vs 7.9%
Body & structure
4.4% vs 6.3%
Visibility
4.4% vs 6.5%
Emissions & leaks
2.3% vs 5.4%
Seat belts & airbags
1.4% vs 2.0%
Wheels
0.3% vs 0.6%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Track rod ends 1.8× typical
    Feel for play or knocking in the steering and check for wear on the inner edges of the front tyres.
  • Anti-roll bar links 1.7× typical
    A knock or rattle over uneven roads usually means worn anti-roll bar links (cheap to fix).
  • Brake lights
    Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
  • Headlight aim
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
  • Headlight bulbs & units
    Check dipped and main beam on both sides.
  • Handbrake performance
    Check the handbrake holds the car firmly on a slope.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

50%60%70%80%90%100%10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k110k120k130k140k150k90%85%81%74%67%62%58%56%
Land Rover FreelanderTypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Track rod ends4.1%2.3%1.8×
Brake lights3.9%3.8%1.0×
Sidelights3.6%5.3%0.7×
Headlight aim3.5%5.1%0.7×
Headlight bulbs & units2.8%3.6%0.8×
Handbrake performance2.6%2.7%0.9×
Number plate lights2.5%2.4%1.0×
Tyre tread depth2.4%3.6%0.7×
Windscreen wipers2.4%2.7%0.9×
Anti-roll bar links2.3%1.4%1.7×

Specific defects found

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

Defectper 1,000
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn41.8
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements35.4
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning34.3
A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play34.3
Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement28.5
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning27.8
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements24.0
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen23.0
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.

2014 Land Rover Freelander1 engine80.5% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.2 Diesel102,86280.5%Beats 89%A
2013 Land Rover Freelander1 engine76.9% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.2 Diesel116,80976.9%Beats 87%A
2012 Land Rover Freelander1 engine76.6% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.2 Diesel91,08576.6%Beats 92%A
2011 Land Rover Freelander2 engines75.8% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.2 Diesel106,25075.7%Beats 95%A
2.0 Diesel1,90977.0%Beats 97%A
2010 Land Rover Freelander2 engines70.3% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.2 Diesel122,01670.3%Beats 87%A
2.0 Diesel2,55470.9%Beats 88%A
2009 Land Rover Freelander2 engines69.5% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.2 Diesel86,44969.5%Beats 90%A
2.0 Diesel2,18669.5%Beats 89%A
2008 Land Rover Freelander2 engines65.3% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.2 Diesel97,06665.3%Beats 82%A
2.0 Diesel2,44163.9%Beats 77%B
2007 Land Rover Freelander3 engines63.1% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.2 Diesel124,56663.1%Beats 78%B
2.0 Diesel4,06360.9%Beats 70%B
3.2 Petrol2,91968.9%Beats 91%A
2006 Land Rover Freelander2 engines53.6% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel63,62953.0%Beats 48%C
2.2 Diesel7,02359.9%Beats 71%B
2005 Land Rover Freelander2 engines51.8% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel62,82252.0%Beats 49%C
1.8 Petrol10,26150.7%Beats 38%D
2004 Land Rover Freelander4 engines51.9% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel55,75052.2%Beats 54%C
1.8 Petrol12,17049.8%Beats 40%D
2.5 Petrol1,16557.0%Beats 55%C
2.2 Diesel1,07053.2%Beats 57%C
2003 Land Rover Freelander2 engines51.4% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel40,55051.5%Beats 53%C
1.8 Petrol9,63150.6%Beats 45%C
2002 Land Rover Freelander3 engines51.7% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel30,41951.5%Beats 53%C
1.8 Petrol8,05351.9%Beats 49%C
2.5 Petrol1,15257.7%Beats 61%B
2001 Land Rover Freelander3 engines51.2% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel14,66050.2%Beats 46%C
1.8 Petrol5,79952.0%Beats 46%C
2.5 Petrol1,25859.9%Beats 65%B
2000 Land Rover Freelander2 engines51.9% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel5,03453.4%Beats 54%C
1.8 Petrol3,87250.0%Beats 34%D
1999 Land Rover Freelander2 engines50.6% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel2,97751.2%Beats 42%C
1.8 Petrol2,54049.9%Beats 26%D
1998 Land Rover Freelander2 engines52.4% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel2,18152.7%Beats 39%D
1.8 Petrol1,88352.2%Beats 29%D

FAQ

What is the Land Rover Freelander MOT pass rate?

66.3% of MOT tests on the Land Rover Freelander were passed first time, based on 1,207,074 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 1998–2014. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 59.2% of the time.

Is the Land Rover Freelander 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 76% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Land Rover Freelander year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2011 Freelander does best for its age and mileage: it beats 95% of cars on UK roads. The 2005 does worst: it beats 48%.

Which Land Rover Freelander engine is best?

Across all years, the 2.2 Diesel does best: it beats 87% of cars on UK roads. The 1.8 Petrol does worst: it beats 41%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Land Rover Freelander?

The most common failure items are track rod ends, brake lights, sidelights. Compared with similar cars, track rod ends comes up 1.8× 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.