Land Rover Freelander (1999)
1999 Land Rover Freelander
CarHunch analysed 17,840 real MOT records for the 1999 Land Rover Freelander. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1999 Freelander passes its MOT first time in only 68% of cases, well below the UK average of 80%, and over one in five owners will encounter a dangerous defect during ownership—a genuinely significant buyer concern. Diesel versions fare slightly better at 70% pass rate versus 67% for petrol, but neither inspires confidence.
At 82,000 miles median, these vehicles have typically clocked up reasonable mileage for their age, yet they're still averaging 3.4 failures and nearly 11 advisories per test, pointing to corrosion, suspension wear, and electrical gremlins as chronic issues. If you're considering one, budget for remedial work and have a pre-purchase inspection by someone familiar with Freelanders' known weak points—don't rely on the last MOT pass alone.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 2.5 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 1999 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.
- ⚠️ 21.6% 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.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (68%) | 12,047 | 67.1% | 3.19 |
| Diesel (32%) | 5,764 | 69.6% | 3.78 |
| LPG (0%) | 20 | 66.7% | 3.7 |
| Other (0%) | 6 | 67.2% | 1 |
| Electric (0%) | 2 | 59.1% | 8 |
| Fuel Cells (0%) | 1 | 57.1% | 3 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1999 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.
Half of all 1999 Land Rover Freelander vehicles fall between 69,106 and 97,537 miles.
1999 Land Rover Freelander — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 337 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2023 (7% of peak).
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
Most Common MOT Issues — 1999 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
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55%
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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53.5%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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51.9%
Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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51.4%
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive
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45.8%
Oil leak
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42%
Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
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41.2%
Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1999. 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.