Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport?

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 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport?

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 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport?

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 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

44% 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 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport reliable?

Based on MOT data from 7,272 vehicles, the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport has a first-time MOT pass rate of 84.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport?

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 Range Rover Sport (2012)

7,272 real MOT outcomes analysed • 84.8% first-time pass rate

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

CarHunch analysed 7,272 real MOT records for the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport. 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 Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2012 Range Rover Sport passes its MOT 84.8% of the time—notably better than the UK average of 80%—but there's a serious caveat: 44% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is well above what you'd typically see and a genuine buyer concern. Diesel variants, which make up 98% of the cohort, perform fractionally worse at 84.7% pass rate compared to petrol at 88%, though the difference is marginal.

These vehicles are running at around 71,000 miles for their age, which is standard for a 12-year-old, yet they're racking up an average of 1.96 failures and 15.1 advisories per test—suggesting age-related wear is catching up. Before buying one, have an independent inspection focus on suspension geometry, transmission condition, and brake components, as the high dangerous defect rate points to systematic issues in these areas rather than random failures.

The 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport has a decent first-time pass rate (84.8%), 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

84.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

44%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.96

Over 11.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

71k

Middle half: 58k–86k

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 15.1 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 7,272 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

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 7,272 Land Rover Range Rover Sport cars.

Before you buy a 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

Based on MOT data from 7,272 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 44% 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 (98%)	7,111	84.7%	1.97
Petrol (2%)	161	88%	1.49

Colour Breakdown

Based on 148,676 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 37.4%

55,602

Grey 23.8%

35,437

White 11.5%

17,065

Blue 10%

14,876

Silver 7.7%

11,496

Red 5.6%

8,297

Green 1.3%

1,950

Gold 1.3%

1,936

Brown 0.6%

946

Bronze 0.4%

657

Orange 0.2%

348

Yellow 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport 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.

71,163

typical

57,586

low mileage

85,700

high mileage

Half of all 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vehicles fall between 57,586 and 85,700 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 57,586 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.

✓ 57,586–85,700 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sports sit.

⚠ Over 115,695 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport — Still on the Road

Most 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sports are still being driven.

5,363 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 79% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* 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

11.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.96

Avg failures per vehicle

15.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

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Watch for defects — worth knowing