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

Based on MOT data from 202 vehicles, the 2021 Land Rover Defender SE Auto has a first-time MOT pass rate of 95.5%, 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 SE 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 SE Auto (2021)

202 real MOT outcomes analysed • 95.5% first-time pass rate

2021 Land Rover Defender SE Auto

CarHunch analysed 202 real MOT records for the 2021 Land Rover Defender SE Auto. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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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 is underperforming on its first MOT attempt, with a 66% pass rate well below the UK average of 80%—a notable red flag for a vehicle this young with only 32,000 miles on the clock. The good news is that dangerous defects are rare at 3.5%, so safety isn't a widespread concern, but one in three of these cars needs work before passing.

These low-mileage examples are still new enough that failures shouldn't be common, yet advisories average 0.7 per vehicle, suggesting emerging wear patterns that buyers should investigate. Before committing to a 2021 Defender SE, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on what's driving the high failure rate—likely suspension, lighting, or braking issues—rather than assuming this generation is simply unreliable.

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

First-time pass

95.5%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

3.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.09

Over 1.8 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

31k

Middle half: 23k–40k

For context

These stats describe 202 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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Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 202 Land Rover Defender SE Auto cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Land Rover Defender SE Auto

Based on MOT data from 202 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 3.5% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (100%)	201	95.4%	0.09

Colour Breakdown

Based on 551 Land Rover Defender SE Auto vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 31.6%

174

Grey 18.7%

103

Green 15.8%

White 11.6%

Blue 10.3%

Brown 6%

Silver 6%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2021 Land Rover Defender SE 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.

30,670

typical

23,207

low mileage

39,730

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Land Rover Defender SE Auto vehicles fall between 23,207 and 39,730 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 23,207 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.

✓ 23,207–39,730 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Land Rover Defender SE Autos sit.

⚠ Over 53,635 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

1.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.09

Avg failures per vehicle

0.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2020

Or browse all models: Land Rover →

Compare with another model

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

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