Land Rover Freelander (1998)

17,395 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68.2% first-time pass rate

1998 Land Rover Freelander

CarHunch analysed 17,395 real MOT records for the 1998 Land Rover Freelander. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 11.8% below UK average
68.2%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
89,257
typical mileage
75,399–104,634 middle half
20.7%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
3.13
avg MOT failures per car
over 9.3 tests on record

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 3.1 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

67.1%
Petrol
11,310 vehicles
70.2%
Diesel
6,058 vehicles

What to check before buying a 1998 Land Rover Freelander

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.
  • ⚠️ 20.7% 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 Freelander

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

Inspection ClickMechanic Have a qualified mechanic check this car before you commit to buying

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
Petrol (65%) 11,310 67.1% 3.01
Diesel (35%) 6,058 70.2% 3.37
LPG (0%) 24 71.6% 3.29
Gas (0%) 2 39.3% 1.5
Electric (0%) 1 70% 3

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Land Rover Freelander 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.

75,399
low mileage
89,257
typical
104,634
high mileage

Half of all 1998 Land Rover Freelander vehicles fall between 75,399 and 104,634 miles.

1998 Land Rover Freelander — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 259 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2023 (6% of peak).

4,250 259 2014 2023

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2023.

MOT History Averages

9.3
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
3.13
Avg failures per vehicle
10
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1998 Land Rover Freelander

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

  • 56.9%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 55%
    Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
  • 53.5%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 51.9%
    Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
  • 51.4%
    Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive
  • 45.8%
    Oil leak
  • 42%
    Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
  • 41.2%
    Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Land Rover Freelander?

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

UK

Other model years — Land Rover Freelander:

1997 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014