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

Based on MOT data from 120 vehicles, the 2021 Land Rover Defender S Auto has a first-time MOT pass rate of 95.4%, 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 S 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 S Auto (2021)

120 real MOT outcomes analysed • 95.4% first-time pass rate

2021 Land Rover Defender S Auto

CarHunch analysed 120 real MOT records for the 2021 Land Rover Defender S Auto. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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The 2021 Land Rover Defender S Auto is a solid performer, with an 87.5% first-time MOT pass rate that sits comfortably above the UK average of 80%. Dangerous defects are rare at 5%, so structural and safety concerns aren't a significant worry for this cohort.

At under 30,000 miles on average, these vehicles are still very young and relatively lightly used, which explains the low failure rate of just 0.12 per vehicle. The 0.9 advisories per car suggest minor maintenance items crop up occasionally—typical for a vehicle this age—so budget for routine checks on trim, fluids, and wear items before your next test.

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

First-time pass

95.4%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.13

Over 2.1 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

31k

Middle half: 19k–36k

For context

These stats describe 120 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 120 Land Rover Defender S Auto cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Land Rover Defender S Auto

Based on MOT data from 120 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 5% 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

Mileage Distribution

Most 2021 Land Rover Defender S 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.

30,619

typical

19,334

low mileage

36,061

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Land Rover Defender S Auto vehicles fall between 19,334 and 36,061 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 19,334 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.

✓ 19,334–36,061 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Land Rover Defender S Autos sit.

⚠ Over 48,682 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

0.13

Avg failures per vehicle

0.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Compare with another model

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

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