Land Rover Discovery Sport years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year

120,133 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 2015–2022 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

Land Rover Discovery Sport years with MOT pass rates below the average for vehicles first used in the same year: 2019–2022. Above it: 2015–2018.

Below the average for their first-use year2019–2022
Above the average for their first-use year2015–2018
Can't be told apart from averageNone

The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.

81.1%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 80.9% to 81.4%.

Land Rover Discovery Sport, all years81.1%
Same-age average, all vehicles79.8%

In 2025, 81.1% of the 120,133 initial MOT tests on Land Rover Discovery Sport cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 79.8%. That is 1.3 points above the same-age average.

Check a specific Discovery Sport

Its own MOT history, free.

Land Rover Discovery Sport MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

Year	Testsmedian miles	Passed first time	Against all vehicles that year
2022age 3	4,55927,900	83.0%±1.2	−5.5 ptsall: 88.5%
2021age 4	8,99937,900	83.1%±0.8	−4.1 ptsall: 87.2%
2020age 5	11,66241,600	82.7%±0.7	−3.3 ptsall: 86.0%
2019age 6	16,75750,900	82.1%±0.6	−1.4 ptsall: 83.5%
2018age 7	18,87960,300	82.0%±0.6	+1.1 ptsall: 80.9%
2017age 8	22,72669,600	81.1%±0.6	+2.9 ptsall: 78.2%
2016age 9	21,69477,700	78.9%±0.6	+4.0 ptsall: 74.9%
2015age 10	14,85788,000	79.3%±0.7	+7.4 ptsall: 71.9%

Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.

When a car's mileage doesn't add up

Common Discovery Sport problems at the MOT

Share of the 22,650 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these add up to more than 100%.

Tyres32.3%
Lights and electrics25.3%
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors17.8%
Brakes17.6%
Noise, emissions, leaks15.7%
Suspension12.5%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems. Each year page compares that year's failure areas with all vehicles first used in the same year.

What to check when viewing a Discovery Sport

Based on the areas where Land Rover Discovery Sport MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

Tyres
In 32.3% of failed Discovery Sport tests
- Check the tread on every tyre. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread.
- Look for cuts, bulges, and wear on only the inner or outer edge, which can point to an alignment problem.
- Check that the spare wheel or the tyre repair kit is there.
Lights and electrics
In 25.3% of failed Discovery Sport tests
- Ask the seller to help you check every light: dipped and main beam, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp.
- Look for cracked, misted or yellowed headlight lenses.
- Warning lights on the dashboard should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts.
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors
In 17.8% of failed Discovery Sport tests
- Look for chips and cracks in the windscreen, especially in front of the driver.
- Run the wipers and washers. The blades should clear the screen without smearing.
- Check both door mirrors and the rear-view mirror are intact and adjust.
Brakes
In 17.6% of failed Discovery Sport tests
- On a clear road, brake firmly. The car should stop in a straight line without juddering or pulling to one side.
- Check the handbrake holds the car on a slope.
- Look through the wheels at the brake discs for deep grooves or a raised lip at the edge.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check a Discovery Sport's MOT history

Land Rover Discovery Sport questions

Which Land Rover Discovery Sport years have lower MOT pass rates?

Compared with all vehicles first used in the same year, these model years have below-average MOT pass rates: 2019–2022. Above average: 2015–2018. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.

Is the Land Rover Discovery Sport reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 81.1% of initial MOT tests on Land Rover Discovery Sport cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 79.8%. That is 1.3 points above average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.

What are the most common Land Rover Discovery Sport problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are tyres (in 32.3% of failed tests), lights and electrics (in 25.3% of failed tests) and windscreen, wipers, mirrors (in 17.8% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 10-year-old Land Rover Discovery Sport?

At their 2025 MOT tests, Land Rover Discovery Sport cars first used in 2015, about 10 years old, had a median of 88,000 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific Discovery Sport's MOT history?

Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.

Check a car's MOT history for free

What MOT data can't tell you about any Land Rover Discovery Sport

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other Land Rover models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

All 8 Land Rover models Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all Land Rover Discovery Sport cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count