Land Rover Defender (2007)

5,580 real MOT outcomes analysed • 77.5% first-time pass rate

2007 Land Rover Defender

CarHunch analysed 5,580 real MOT records for the 2007 Land Rover Defender. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 2007 Land Rover Defender falls slightly below the UK average with a 77.5% first-time pass rate, and more concerning, over a third of these vehicles (34.9%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—well above typical. This is a vehicle that demands serious pre-purchase inspection and a realistic acceptance that structural or safety issues are commonplace for the age and type.

These Defenders are running at modest mileage for their age (median 67,751 miles), yet they're racking up an average of 4.22 failures and 25.4 advisories per test, indicating that age and use—not heavy miles—are driving deterioration. Before committing to one, get a full structural survey and budget for steady maintenance; this is a vehicle with character and capability, but not one to buy on the cheap or assume will be trouble-free.

Below average reliability 2.5% below UK average
77.5%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
67,751
typical mileage
49,079–89,629 middle half
34.9%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
4.22
avg MOT failures per car
over 17.3 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2007 Land Rover Defender

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 34.9% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Land Rover Defender

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (100%) 5,558 77.5% 4.23
Petrol (0%) 19 72.3% 3.11
Electric (0%) 2 81.6% 3.5
LPG (0%) 1 92.3% 1

Mileage Distribution

Most 2007 Land Rover Defender vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

49,079
low mileage
67,751
typical
89,629
high mileage

Half of all 2007 Land Rover Defender vehicles fall between 49,079 and 89,629 miles.

2007 Land Rover Defender — Still on the Road

3,814 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 79% of the peak remain.

4,834 3,814 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

17.3
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
4.22
Avg failures per vehicle
25.4
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2007 Land Rover Defender

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 72.8%
    Oil leak, but not excessive
  • 44.5%
    Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material
  • 43.6%
    Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material
  • 25.6%
    Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
  • 23.9%
    Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed
  • 23.5%
    Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
  • 23%
    Offside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened
  • 21.4%
    Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2007. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Land Rover Defender?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Land Rover Defender:

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016