At a glance
How 5,295 first tests went in 2025.
- Passed first time
- 65 in every 100
- Did not pass first time
- 35 in every 1001,860 failed first-attempt tests
- The typical car
- 21 yearsabout 150,810 miles
- First tests counted
- 5,295
What failed most often
- Individual sidelight or tail light (front)12 in every 100 failed tests
- Chassis condition (rear)11 in every 100 failed tests
- Suspension mounting area (rear)10 in every 100 failed tests
How we count this. Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Only Class 4 cars on their first MOT of the year are counted. A car that fails and is fixed at the test station still counts as a fail in the first-attempt rate. These are raw results, not adjusted for age, mileage, or peer mix. The MOT does not test engine or gearbox internals.
These are patterns across 2004 Land Rover Discovery vehicles in 2025, not a prediction that any one car will have them. Faults are grouped by part of the car. They come from MOT defect codes, not manufacturer bulletins, recalls or a diagnosis of any one car.
Brakes
Three faults. The strongest is the brake master cylinder and servo mounting area (front): 95 times as often as on similar cars.
Figures below are measured across the 1,857 of 1,860 failed first attempts (99.8%) that recorded an odometer reading in 2025. Mileage is needed to compare like with like.
We only list faults with at least 20 failures and a rate of about 2.0 times that of similar cars, which keeps one-off results out of the list.
Brake master cylinder and servo mounting area (front)
What it means
The load bearing structure within a set distance of the master cylinder and servo mounting is a prescribed area, and its strength and continuity are checked. Excessive corrosion, excessive damage, a fracture or an inadequate repair there is Major. Dangerous applies when the area is so weakened that the functionality of the braking system is affected.
Electronic stability control
What it means
An ESC warning lamp is failed only when the tester is certain it indicates an ESC malfunction, because the lamp takes various forms and the owner's handbook may need checking. The system is also called ESP, VDC or DSC, among many other names. Every failure row is Major, covering the lamp, wheel speed sensors, wiring, other components and the switch.
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
What it means
ABS is failed as removed only where it has obviously been removed, because not every vehicle in the age range where removal is not permitted has ABS. A warning lamp that does not light or shows an ABS fault is Major, as is a missing or excessively damaged wheel speed sensor. Every failure row for this component is Major.
Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage.
Steering
One fault: steering drag link end (front), 17 times as often as on similar cars.
Steering drag link end (front)
What it means
A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play is Major, and one worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment is graded Dangerous. Track rod or drag link ends that are seriously misaligned are Major. An unsafe modification to the steering linkage is Major, and Dangerous where the steering is affected.
Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage.
Body and structure
Three faults. The strongest is the fuel system: 7.9 times as often as on similar cars.
Fuel system
What it means
A fuel tank with a hole, or a split filler neck, from which fuel can leak must be failed for leaking even if the hole or split is above the fuel line. A leaking fuel system is Major, and graded Dangerous where it leaks excessively or there is a risk of fire. Any defective part of an LPG, CNG, LNG or hydrogen system is also graded Dangerous.
Chassis condition (rear)
What it means
A main load-bearing structural member that is fractured, deformed, modified or inadequately repaired is Major when structural rigidity is significantly reduced, and Dangerous where steering or braking is likely to be adversely affected. Corrosion of the body, cab or chassis at a mounting point is Dangerous where overall security or stability is impaired.
Also noted as an advisory
Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 166 first tests, 4.9 times as often as on similar cars.
Chassis condition (front)
What it means
A main load-bearing structural member that is fractured, deformed, modified or inadequately repaired is Major when structural rigidity is significantly reduced, and Dangerous where steering or braking is likely to be adversely affected. Corrosion of the body, cab or chassis at a mounting point is Dangerous where overall security or stability is impaired.
Also noted as an advisory
Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 60 first tests, 4.0 times as often as on similar cars.
Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage. Advisories count notes recorded on failed first tests only.
Suspension
Two faults. The strongest is the anti-roll bar linkage ball joints (rear): 6.2 times as often as on similar cars.
Anti-roll bar linkage ball joints (rear)
What it means
Excessive wear on an anti-roll bar linkage ball joint is Major. A joint likely to become detached is graded Dangerous.
Also noted as an advisory
Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 74 first tests, 4.1 times as often as on similar cars.
Suspension arm pins and bushes (rear)
What it means
Pins and bushes on suspension arms fail as Major when they are excessively worn. They are graded Dangerous when likely to become detached. DVSA uses the same wording for a suspension joint.
Also noted as an advisory
Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 108 first tests, 2.3 times as often as on similar cars.
Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage. Advisories count notes recorded on failed first tests only.
Seat belts and restraints
One fault: seat belt mounting area (rear), 2.9 times as often as on similar cars.
Seat belt mounting area (rear)
What it means
A seat belt anchorage likely to become detached in the event of a collision is graded Dangerous. The load bearing structure near an anchorage, called a prescribed area, is Major when its strength or continuity is significantly reduced or it is inadequately repaired. Anchorage points are inspected for all seat belts fitted, except a belt with no corresponding seat.
Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage.
Advisories
Other things testers noted as worn or close to failing, more often than on similar cars.
An advisory is a note from the tester about something that has not failed yet. It is an early warning, not a fail. Advisories for the faults above are shown with those faults.
Steering box play
Other suspension component ball joint (front)
Transmission oil leaks (front)
Transmission oil leaks (rear)
Seat belt condition (rear)
Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Counts cover advisories recorded on failed first tests only, compared with cars of the same age and mileage.
MOT pass rates
How first tests ended, and how the pass rates are counted.
- Passed first time
- 65in every 100
- Passed on the first test.
- Fixed at the station
- 6in every 100
- Failed, then fixed at the test station the same day.
- Failed
- 29in every 100
- Did not pass, and were not fixed at the test station.
First-attempt pass 64.9% of 5,295 first tests (2025): only cars that passed first time count. Official-style pass 71.2%: cars fixed at the test station also count as a pass. The 6 fixed and the 29 not fixed make the 35 in every 100 that did not pass first time.
Same model, other years
Passed first time in every 100, all tested in 2025.
Newer cars are younger, so look for a jump rather than the climb. A year earlier (2024), when these cars were a year younger, 63 in every 100 passed first time.
| Year | Passed first time | First tests |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 74 in every 100 | 523 |
| 1995 | 69 in every 100 | 671 |
| 1996 | 72 in every 100 | 746 |
| 1997 | 70 in every 100 | 864 |
| 1998 | 68 in every 100 | 927 |
| 1999 | 66 in every 100 | 1,637 |
| 2000 | 64 in every 100 | 1,759 |
| 2001 | 64 in every 100 | 2,861 |
| 2002 | 65 in every 100 | 3,652 |
| 2003 | 66 in every 100 | 4,666 |
| 2004 This car | 65 in every 100 | 5,295 |
| 2005 | 64 in every 100 | 6,295 |
| 2006 | 61 in every 100 | 6,150 |
| 2007 | 63 in every 100 | 5,278 |
| 2008 | 64 in every 100 | 4,086 |
| 2009 | 66 in every 100 | 4,486 |
| 2010 | 70 in every 100 | 5,608 |
| 2011 | 71 in every 100 | 5,453 |
| 2012 | 72 in every 100 | 6,239 |
| 2013 | 74 in every 100 | 5,951 |
| 2014 | 77 in every 100 | 7,006 |
| 2015 | 79 in every 100 | 8,703 |
| 2016 | 80 in every 100 | 9,189 |
| 2017 | 82 in every 100 | 9,170 |
| 2018 | 85 in every 100 | 8,001 |
| 2019 | 86 in every 100 | 7,476 |
| 2020 | 86 in every 100 | 5,898 |
| 2021 | 86 in every 100 | 6,395 |
| 2022 | 87 in every 100 | 3,933 |
If you are buying one
What this year's MOT record means for the decision in front of you.
Mileage makes little difference on a 2004 Discovery.
Of 2004 Discovery vehicles with under 117,000 miles, 68 in every 100 passed their 2025 MOT first time. With 187,000 miles or more, 65 in every 100 did.
What to check at your mileage
How often each fault turned up on a failed first test, by the car's mileage. Read it as: what is likely to need looking at on a car like the one in front of you.
| Under 117,000 | 140,000–161,000 | 187,000 and over | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual sidelight or tail light (front) | 3.3 | 5.1 | 4.6 |
| Chassis condition (rear) | 3.2 | 3.5 | 5.0 |
| Suspension mounting area (rear) | 2.3 | 3.8 | 4.1 |
| Anti-lock braking system (ABS) | 3.5 | 4.3 | 2.7 |
| Headlight aim | 2.7 | 3.2 | 3.3 |
Faults per 100 first tests, by the car's mileage at the test.
When a car fails
of failed cars had one item to fix.
of failed cars had three or more items to fix.
of all first tests had a defect the tester marked dangerous (unsafe to drive away).
Every figure here is a first-attempt MOT rate from DVSA open data for this model line, for cars of this model year tested in 2025. Each mileage band holds a fifth of the tests. MOTs do not test engine or gearbox internals, so this is a pre-purchase checklist, not a full reliability score.
FAQs
Short answers about how to read this model-year guide.
About this data
How this page is built and what it can (and can't) say.
These figures come from UK MOT open data for this model year. We surface common failure patterns against similar cars, not a full reliability score, and not a pass/fail verdict on any individual vehicle.
What we include
UK Class 4 cars only. Normal MOT tests (not retests); first test per vehicle per calendar year; results pass, PRS, or fail.
Same-day repairs
PRS means the car failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.
How we compare
We compare this model year with other Class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year. This model family is left out of the peer group so the car is not measured against itself.
What this does not cover
- MOTs do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronics; this is not a full reliability score.
- Common faults come from MOT defect stats, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
- Age and mileage matching reduces, but does not remove, differences in how cars were used and maintained.
- If the data for a car is too thin to say anything useful, we say so rather than guess.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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