Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2021 Land Rover Defender D MHEV Auto?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2021 Land Rover Defender D MHEV Auto?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2021 Land Rover Defender D MHEV Auto?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2021 Land Rover Defender D MHEV Auto reliable?

Based on MOT data from 175 vehicles, the 2021 Land Rover Defender D MHEV Auto has a first-time MOT pass rate of 92.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2021 Land Rover Defender D MHEV Auto?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

CarHunch

Get Started

Land Rover Defender D MHEV Auto (2021)

175 real MOT outcomes analysed • 92.3% first-time pass rate

2021 Land Rover Defender D MHEV Auto

CarHunch analysed 175 real MOT records for the 2021 Land Rover Defender D MHEV Auto. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2021 Land Rover Defender D MHEV Auto passes its MOT first time at 85.9%, which is a solid 5.9 percentage points above the UK average of 80%—a clear sign of good baseline reliability. Dangerous defects are uncommon at just 3.4%, so safety concerns are minimal for this cohort.

At 34,813 miles median (36,513 average), these Defenders are lightly used for their age, which partly explains the strong pass rate. The low failure rate of 0.23 per vehicle and modest advisory count of 1.3 suggest routine maintenance rather than structural problems—when shopping, focus on verifying full service history and checking suspension components, as these typically dominate the advisory list on this platform.

We have limited data for the 2021 Land Rover Defender D MHEV Auto — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

First-time pass

92.3%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

3.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.23

Over 2.2 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

35k

Middle half: 25k–46k

For context

These stats describe 175 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

A solid choice — agree?

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 175 Land Rover Defender D MHEV Auto cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Land Rover Defender D MHEV Auto

Based on MOT data from 175 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 3.4% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (99%)	173	92.4%	0.23

Mileage Distribution

Most 2021 Land Rover Defender D MHEV Auto vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

34,813

typical

25,222

low mileage

46,048

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Land Rover Defender D MHEV Auto vehicles fall between 25,222 and 46,048 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 25,222 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 25,222–46,048 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Land Rover Defender D MHEV Autos sit.

⚠ Over 62,164 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

2.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.23

Avg failures per vehicle

1.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Compare with another model

See how the 2021 Land Rover Defender D MHEV Auto stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?