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

Based on MOT data from 177 vehicles, the 2021 Land Rover Defender SE D Auto has a first-time MOT pass rate of 96.2%, 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 SE D 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 D Auto (2021)

177 real MOT outcomes analysed • 96.2% first-time pass rate

2021 Land Rover Defender SE D Auto

CarHunch analysed 177 real MOT records for the 2021 Land Rover Defender SE D 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2021 Land Rover Defender SE D Auto posts an 89.1% first-time pass rate, well above the UK average of 80%, which is a genuinely strong result for a diesel SUV at this age. The dangerous defect rate sits at just 4.5%, so structural and safety issues are rare enough not to be a buyer concern.

At 37,300 miles median, these vehicles are running slightly below the expected mileage for a three-year-old, suggesting relatively gentle use overall. The low failure rate of 0.12 per vehicle and modest advisory count of 1.0 indicate that when problems do show up, they're typically minor wear items rather than serious mechanical faults—a good sign of solid build quality, though you should still get a pre-purchase inspection done to check the condition of the specific vehicle you're interested in.

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

First-time pass

96.2%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

4.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.12

Over 2.2 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

37k

Middle half: 26k–45k

For context

These stats describe 177 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 177 Land Rover Defender SE D Auto cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Land Rover Defender SE D Auto

Based on MOT data from 177 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 4.5% 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 SE D 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.

37,273

typical

26,264

low mileage

45,114

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Land Rover Defender SE D Auto vehicles fall between 26,264 and 45,114 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 26,264 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.

✓ 26,264–45,114 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Land Rover Defender SE D Autos sit.

⚠ Over 60,903 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2021 Land Rover Defender SE D Auto — Still on the Road

Almost all 2021 Land Rover Defender SE D Autos are still on the road.

Strong survival — 152 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 98% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2023–2025.

MOT History Averages

2.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.12

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2020

Or browse all models: Land Rover →

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