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

Based on MOT data from 1,408 vehicles, the 2021 Land Rover Defender Hard Top D MHEV Auto has a first-time MOT pass rate of 95.2%, 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 Hard Top 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.

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Land Rover Defender Hard Top D MHEV Auto (2021)

1,408 real MOT outcomes analysed • 95.2% first-time pass rate

2021 Land Rover Defender Hard Top D MHEV Auto

CarHunch analysed 1,408 real MOT records for the 2021 Land Rover Defender Hard Top D MHEV Auto. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

This 2021 Defender diesel is a strong performer, with a 91.9% first-time pass rate that significantly outpaces the UK average of 80%, and only 2.8% of vehicles have ever picked up a dangerous defect—well below the threshold for concern. The low failure rate of just 0.15 per vehicle suggests the breed is fundamentally sound mechanically.

At 36,320 miles median (39,910 average), these are relatively low-mileage examples for their age, which explains the clean bill of health. The 0.8 advisories per vehicle is modest, indicating only minor wear items cropping up; when you're shopping, focus your pre-purchase inspection on brake condition and fluid leaks, the typical culprits for this engine type.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender Hard Top D MHEV Auto passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (95.2% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

First-time pass

95.2%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

2.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.15

Over 2.1 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

36k

Middle half: 27k–50k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 95.2% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

These stats describe 1,408 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.

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See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,408 Land Rover Defender Hard Top D MHEV Auto cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Land Rover Defender Hard Top D MHEV Auto

Based on MOT data from 1,408 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 2.8% 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 (100%)	1,401	95.2%	0.15

Colour Breakdown

Based on 4,472 Land Rover Defender Hard Top D MHEV Auto vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 33.5%

1,500

Grey 26.3%

1,177

Blue 12.3%

551

Green 10.4%

464

White 10.3%

460

Silver 5%

222

Brown 2.1%

Bronze 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2021 Land Rover Defender Hard Top 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.

36,320

typical

27,058

low mileage

50,124

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Land Rover Defender Hard Top D MHEV Auto vehicles fall between 27,058 and 50,124 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 27,058 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.

✓ 27,058–50,124 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Land Rover Defender Hard Top D MHEV Autos sit.

⚠ Over 67,667 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

2.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.15

Avg failures per vehicle

0.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Land Rover Defender Hard Top D MHEV Auto: All Defender Hard Top D MHEV Auto years → Which year to buy? →

2022 2023 2024

Or browse all models: Land Rover →

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

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