Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0
Land Rover
Defender First ED D Mhev Auto
1,402 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where Defender First ED D Mhev Autos pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 17.6 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
95.2%
Pass-after-fix
0.6%
Fail
3.6%
Avg miles
30,552
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Diesel cars registered from September 2015 generally meet Euro 6 — compliant in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, Bristol CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ.
The picture
Defender First Ed D Mhev Auto: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 1,402 MOT tests, the Defender First Ed D Mhev Auto returns 95.2% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is windscreen damage. Wipers that don't clear the screen and a non-conforming number plate round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 30,552, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
43 occurrences · 3.1% of tests
- 02
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
14 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
- 03
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
10 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 04
evidence that the original webbing has been cut and/or reworked. e.g. belts knotted, fraying or fluffing removed/sealed by burning etc. (see note a)
5 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 05
A tyre seriously damaged
5 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 06
A tyre seriously damaged
4 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 07
A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud
4 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 08
Brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator
3 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
- 09
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
3 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
- 10
Number plate showing an incorrect registration
3 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures
£35–£80
If every one of this Defender First ED D Mhev Auto's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Bosch Aerotwin wiper blades
Cheap wipers fail the test on smear streaks. Bosch Aerotwins last a winter and clear a screen properly.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
MOT-spec replacement number plate
Faded or non-standard plates fail outright. Replacements take ten minutes online with V5C details.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Parts & supplies for this fix
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Hycote Land Rover Fuji White Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
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Hycote Land Rover Santorini Black Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Book a mobile mechanic
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Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
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Buying or keeping a Defender First ED D Mhev Auto?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Defender First ED D Mhev Auto and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.