Land Rover Rangerover 4.0 SE Auto (1996)
1996 Land Rover Rangerover 4.0 SE Auto
CarHunch analysed 162 real MOT records for the 1996 Land Rover Rangerover 4.0 SE Auto. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
This 1996 Range Rover has a first-time MOT pass rate of just 17%, well below the UK average of 80%, which signals serious reliability concerns for a 28-year-old vehicle in this condition. Dangerous defects are rare (0.6% of vehicles), so catastrophic safety failures aren't the issue—instead, expect multiple smaller problems across electrics, suspension, and emissions that accumulate into frequent test failures.
At 112,000 miles average, these Range Rovers have typical mileage for their age, but they're fundamentally high-maintenance machines that will need committed owners. The 0.33 failures and 0.9 advisories per vehicle suggest that even when one passes, it's barely compliant and likely needs immediate attention to several systems; if you're considering one, budget for a full pre-purchase inspection by a Land Rover specialist and factor in regular remedial work rather than viewing it as a straightforward classic.
What to check before buying a 1996 Land Rover Rangerover 4.0 SE Auto
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.
- 📄 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 Rangerover 4.0 SE Auto
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (91%) | 148 | 13.2% | 0.25 |
| LPG (5%) | 8 | 40.6% | 1.75 |
| Other (2%) | 4 | 91.4% | 0.75 |
| Diesel (1%) | 1 | 0% | 0 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (1%) | 1 | 100% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1996 Land Rover Rangerover 4.0 SE Auto 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 1996 Land Rover Rangerover 4.0 SE Auto vehicles fall between 94,815 and 130,823 miles.
MOT History Averages
Found a specific Land Rover Rangerover 4.0 SE Auto?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.
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