Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2011 Land Rover Defender?

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 2011 Land Rover Defender?

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 2011 Land Rover Defender?

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.

How many 2011 Land Rover Defender vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

30% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2011 Land Rover Defender reliable?

Based on MOT data from 5,142 vehicles, the 2011 Land Rover Defender has a first-time MOT pass rate of 79.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2011 Land Rover Defender?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2011 Land Rover Defender are: Oil leak, but not excessive (44.9% of vehicles), Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (40.8% of vehicles), Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (37% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2011 Land Rover Defender?

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 (2011)

5,142 real MOT outcomes analysed • 79.9% first-time pass rate

2011 Land Rover Defender

CarHunch analysed 5,142 real MOT records for the 2011 Land Rover Defender. 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 Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2011 Defender passes its MOT at almost exactly the UK average of 80%, so reliability is broadly in line with expectations—but here's the catch: nearly a third of these vehicles (30.1%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is significantly higher than most models and a genuine buyer concern if you're inheriting an unknown service history. Diesel dominates the fleet (5,119 of 5,142 vehicles) with an identical 79.8% pass rate, so fuel type isn't a differentiator here.

At 61,439 miles average, these Defenders are running high for a 2011, yet still racking up 3 failures and 17 advisories per test on average—a sign that age and heavy use are catching up with the model's reputation for durability. Before you buy, ask for full service records and get an independent inspection focusing on brakes, suspension, and steering components, which commonly underpin those dangerous defects.

The 2011 Land Rover Defender has a decent first-time pass rate (79.9%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

79.9%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

30.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

Over 13.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

57k

Middle half: 39k–79k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 17.2 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 5,142 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 5,142 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 44.9%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread

Brake wear 40.8%

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 20.3%

Nearside Rear Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush · Offside Rear Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush · Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Lighting 19.2%

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed · Nearside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Tyre wear 16.3%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2011.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 5,142 Land Rover Defender cars.

Before you buy a 2011 Land Rover Defender

Based on MOT data from 5,142 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 30.1% 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%)	5,119	79.9%	3

Colour Breakdown

Based on 178,788 Land Rover Defender vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Green 31.6%

56,491

Blue 21.4%

38,210

Grey 11.2%

19,977

White 10.1%

18,136

Black 10.1%

17,989

Red 8.6%

15,383

Silver 4.4%

7,819

Yellow 0.7%

1,237

Orange 0.6%

1,149

Cream 0.5%

850

Beige 0.4%

784

Brown 0.4%

763

Mileage Distribution

Most 2011 Land Rover Defender 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.

56,912

typical

38,820

low mileage

78,503

high mileage

Half of all 2011 Land Rover Defender vehicles fall between 38,820 and 78,503 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 38,820 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.

✓ 38,820–78,503 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2011 Land Rover Defenders sit.

⚠ Over 105,979 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2011 Land Rover Defender — Still on the Road

Most 2011 Land Rover Defenders are still being driven.

Strong survival — 4,017 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 83% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

13.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

Avg failures per vehicle

17.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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 2007 2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

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Compare with another model

See how the 2011 Land Rover Defender stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing