Land Rover Freelander (2003)
2003 Land Rover Freelander
CarHunch analysed 22,403 real MOT records for the 2003 Land Rover Freelander. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2003 Freelander passes its MOT first time in just 74.8% of cases, notably below the UK average of 80%, and a concerning 32.7% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—significantly higher than typical. Both petrol and diesel variants perform similarly poorly, with pass rates around 75%, so fuel type offers no reliability advantage here.
These Freelanders are averaging 84,661 miles at test, which is reasonable for their age, but they're racking up 4.58 failures and nearly 23 advisories per vehicle on average, pointing to widespread wear and deterioration across multiple systems. Before buying, budget for immediate remedial work and budget generously—this is a vehicle that will need consistent attention to stay roadworthy.
What to check before buying a 2003 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.
- ⚠️ 32.7% 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
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (69%) | 15,360 | 74.7% | 4.81 |
| Petrol (31%) | 7,020 | 75% | 4.08 |
| LPG (0%) | 18 | 77.4% | 3.72 |
| Other (0%) | 2 | 66.7% | 1 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) | 2 | 86.4% | 2 |
| Electric (0%) | 1 | 61.3% | 12 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2003 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 2003 Land Rover Freelander vehicles fall between 74,729 and 108,041 miles.
2003 Land Rover Freelander — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 2,133 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (12% 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 — 2003 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.
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74.4%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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71.5%
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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69.9%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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69.4%
Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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50.3%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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49.6%
Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
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49%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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47%
Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2003. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Land Rover Freelander?
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