The picture

Defender Hse D Mhev Auto: a strong MOT record by UK norms

Across 1,489 MOT tests, the Defender Hse D Mhev Auto returns 94.2% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is windscreen damage. A defective wiper blade and a tyre with the cords showing round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 33,289, 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

27 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
02

Wiper blade defective

9 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
03

A tyre cords visible or damaged

8 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
04

A tyre seriously damaged

8 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
05

A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

7 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
06

An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

5 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
07

Number plate missing or so insecure that it is likely to fall off

4 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
08

Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen

4 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
09

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements

4 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
10

Brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator

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

£80–£140

If every one of this Defender Hse 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

Digital tyre-tread depth gauge

Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.

Search Amazon UK

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Buying or keeping a Defender Hse 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 Hse 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.