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What to check: Range Rover

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Ranked across all years of the Range Rover, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Bushes and ball jointsRuns high on this modelDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 9.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 5.9%

Rubber boots and gaitersRuns high on this modelOn full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 6.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

Brake pipes underneathRuns high on this modelFollow the metal brake lines with a torch where they run along the sills and over the rear axle. White crust or flaking metal means they are corroding, and the online MOT history usually shows the same advisory creeping up for years before the fail.Recorded on 4.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.9%

LeaksLook at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 2.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Warning lights on ignitionRuns high on this modelTurn the ignition on without starting the engine and watch the dash. Every warning light should appear, then go out once it is running. Be more suspicious of a light that never comes on at all than of one that stays on; warning bulbs have been known to vanish before a sale.Recorded on 1.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.2%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 15.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Pads and discsLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 11.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 8.7%

Windscreen and wipersScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 2.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Push firmly on each door and the tailgate with the car parked and unlocked.Any looseness or a latch that doesn't feel positive is worth checking against the door/tailgate recall history.

Pull the electronic parking brake on and off a few times, including on a slope.A "Park Brake Fault" message or a brake that won't release points to the actuator/calibration fault, and ties into why this model's MOT brake fails run high.

Park it, walk away for 20 minutes, then come back and check ride height at all four corners.One corner sitting low, or the whole car dropped, means a leaking air spring, compressor or valve block.

Cycle through every infotainment screen and watch the instrument cluster for a full test drive.A screen that blanks, freezes or restarts itself is the recurring electrical gremlin, not a one-off.

On a TDV6 diesel, start it stone cold and listen low in the engine before you touch the throttle.A deep, rhythmic knock is the sign of the known crankshaft/bearing failure, not normal diesel clatter.

On a 5.0 supercharged petrol, listen hard for the first few seconds after a cold start.A rattle that fades as the engine warms is timing chain wear starting, worth a proper inspection before it's ignored further.

Get the full service history and check for stamps confirming any recall work was carried out.An unactioned recall, especially the door/tailgate latch one, is a straightforward and free fix you shouldn't have to pay for.

Full Range Rover reliability report