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

Based on MOT data from 499 vehicles, the 2021 Land Rover Defender Hse D MHEV Auto has a first-time MOT pass rate of 94.5%, 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 Hse 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 Hse D MHEV Auto (2021)

499 real MOT outcomes analysed • 94.5% first-time pass rate

2021 Land Rover Defender Hse D MHEV Auto

CarHunch analysed 499 real MOT records for the 2021 Land Rover Defender Hse 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

Moderate sample. 499 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

This 2021 Defender diesel is notably reliable for its age, with a first-time pass rate of 91.1% well above the UK average of 80%, and only 4.6% of vehicles have ever recorded a dangerous defect—a reassuringly low figure for a vehicle in this category. The 0.17 average failures per vehicle is genuinely impressive, suggesting owners rarely encounter structural or safety problems.

At 34,663 miles median mileage, these Defenders are running relatively lightly for three-year-old vehicles, which partly explains the strong pass rates and should hold for future MOTs too. With just 1.1 advisories per vehicle on average, most maintenance needs are minor and predictable—when you're shopping for one, a full service history and tyre/fluid check before purchase will cover almost everything likely to crop up.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender Hse D MHEV Auto passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (94.5% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

First-time pass

94.5%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

4.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.17

Over 2.2 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

35k

Middle half: 27k–45k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 94.5% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

These stats describe 499 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 499 Land Rover Defender Hse D MHEV Auto cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Land Rover Defender Hse D MHEV Auto

Based on MOT data from 499 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 4.6% 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%)	497	94.5%	0.17

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,384 Land Rover Defender Hse D MHEV Auto vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 30%

716

Grey 24.8%

591

Green 18%

430

Blue 8.6%

205

White 6.3%

150

Silver 5.9%

140

Brown 5.6%

133

Red 0.4%

Bronze 0.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2021 Land Rover Defender Hse 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.

34,663

typical

26,920

low mileage

45,321

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Land Rover Defender Hse D MHEV Auto vehicles fall between 26,920 and 45,321 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 26,920 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.

✓ 26,920–45,321 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Land Rover Defender Hse D MHEV Autos sit.

⚠ Over 61,183 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

0.17

Avg failures per vehicle

1.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2022 2023 2024

Or browse all models: Land Rover →

Compare with another model

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

A solid choice — agree?