Land Rover Discovery (2002)
2002 Land Rover Discovery
CarHunch analysed 11,657 real MOT records for the 2002 Land Rover Discovery. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2002 Discovery passes MOT at 72.9%—a concerning 7.1 points below the UK average—and a startling 42.2% of these vehicles have recorded dangerous defects at some point, making this a model you'd want thoroughly inspected before purchase. Petrol and diesel variants perform almost identically (73.8% and 72.8% pass rates respectively), so fuel type offers no reliability advantage here.
At 106,325 miles median mileage, these cars are racking up typical wear for their age, yet they're still averaging nearly 6 failures per MOT and 31 advisories each, pointing to systemic weakness in suspension, brakes, and sealing systems rather than isolated problems. If you're considering one, budget for a pre-purchase inspection by a Land Rover specialist—the high dangerous defect rate means structural or brake issues lurk in a significant portion of the surviving fleet.
What to check before buying a 2002 Land Rover Discovery
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.
- ⚠️ 42.2% 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 Discovery
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
CarHunch may earn a small commission if you buy via these links — at no extra cost to you.
Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (95%) | 11,110 | 72.8% | 5.89 |
| Petrol (4%) | 476 | 73.8% | 4.53 |
| LPG (1%) | 64 | 74.6% | 4.55 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) | 5 | 71.2% | 5.4 |
| Other (0%) | 1 | 65% | 7 |
| Electric (0%) | 1 | 71.4% | 6 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2002 Land Rover Discovery 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.
Half of all 2002 Land Rover Discovery vehicles fall between 87,534 and 126,276 miles.
2002 Land Rover Discovery — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 3,654 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (37% of peak).
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
Most Common MOT Issues — 2002 Land Rover Discovery
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
-
114.6%
Oil leak, but not excessive
-
92.3%
Oil leak
-
59%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
52.7%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
47.2%
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
-
41.5%
Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'
-
41.2%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
41%
Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Land Rover Discovery?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.