Model Reports 8 min read Updated 12 Jul 2026

Land Rover Freelander 2009: reliability & common MOT faults

Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2009 Land Rover Freelander include Decelerometer (sp) (~38.0× peers) and Linkage ball joints (rear) (~6.1× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (3,345 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.

3,345 failed first-attempt tests · 8,950 first tests (test year 2025)

Standout pattern: Decelerometer (sp) — about 38.0× more often than on similar peer cars.

Key takeaways before you buy

  • Decelerometer (sp): about 38.0× more often than similar cars
  • Linkage ball joints (rear): about 6.1× more often than similar cars

Common faults

These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).

Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.

Based on 3,345 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.

Decelerometer (sp)

This failure pattern appears about 38.0× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 315 failed first-attempt tests; 9.4% of failed tests for this model year.

Any · 315 failures · ×38.0 vs similar cars · 9.4% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Linkage ball joints (rear)

This failure pattern appears about 6.1× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 123 failed first-attempt tests; 3.7% of failed tests for this model year.

Rear · 123 failures · ×6.1 vs similar cars · 3.7% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

# Fault pattern Location Failures vs similar cars Share of fails Confidence
1 Decelerometer (sp)
Brakes > Brake performance > Parking brake efficiency (sp) > Decelerometer (sp)
 Any 315 ×38.0 9.4% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
2 Sub-frame (rear)
Suspension > Sub-frames > Sub-frame
 Rear 99 ×6.1 3.0% Likely common fault pattern
3 Linkage ball joints (rear)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage ball joints
 Rear 123 ×6.1 3.7% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
4 Shock absorbers (rear)
Suspension > Shock absorbers
 Rear 377 ×3.8 11.3% Likely common fault pattern
5 Individual direction indicators (front)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Direction indicators > Flashing type > Individual direction indicators
 Front 71 ×2.3 2.1% Possible elevated fault

Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).

Advisories

Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.

# Advisory pattern Location Notes vs similar cars Share Confidence
1 Cable
Brakes > Mechanical brake components > Brake cables, rods, levers and linkages > Cable
 Any 28 ×16.4 0.8% Elevated vs peers
2 Cable (rear)
Brakes > Mechanical brake components > Brake cables, rods, levers and linkages > Cable
 Rear 67 ×14.6 2.0% Elevated vs peers
3 Pipes and hoses
Steering > Power steering > Pipes and hoses
 Any 107 ×12.9 3.2% Possible elevated fault
4 Pipes and hoses (front)
Steering > Power steering > Pipes and hoses
 Front 34 ×10.3 1.0% Elevated vs peers
5 Transmission oil leaks (rear)
Noise, emissions and leaks > Fluid leaks > Transmission oil leaks
 Rear 57 ×9.9 1.7% Elevated vs peers
6 Individual direction indicators (front)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Direction indicators > Flashing type > Individual direction indicators
 Front 115 ×5.0 3.4% Possible elevated fault
7 Prescribed areas (rear)
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems > Seat belts > Prescribed areas
 Rear 21 ×5.0 0.6% Likely common fault pattern
8 Sub-frame condition (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Integral vehicle structure > Sub-frame > Sub-frame condition
 Front 26 ×3.8 0.8% Elevated vs peers

FAQs

We do not show a single reliability score for the 2009 Land Rover Freelander on this page. Among 3,345 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Decelerometer (sp) appears more often than on similar peer cars (about 38.0× more often than peers; 315 observed failures; 9.4% of failed tests). Treat this as a pre-purchase checklist from DVSA open data — not a guarantee for any individual car.
Among failed first-attempt tests we surface patterns that appear more often than on similar peer cars. Top example: Decelerometer (sp) (about 38.0× more often than peers; 315 observed failures; 9.4% of failed tests). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.
Decelerometer (sp) shows up more often than on similar peer cars (about 38.0× more often than peers; 315 observed failures; 9.4% of failed tests). That does not prove a causal design fault — age, mileage, and usage still matter. Treat it as a pre-purchase check point, not a manufacturer TSB.
Common MOT problem areas for the 2009 Land Rover Freelander include Decelerometer (sp), Linkage ball joints (rear). These are elevated versus similar peer cars where lift clears our floors — not a full list of every possible fault on an individual car.
Advisories flag issues noted at the test and are not a fail rate. We show advisory patterns that look elevated versus peers among failed first-attempt tests, separate from common failure rows. Use them as early-warning checks, not as a pass/fail score.
This page highlights elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2009 Land Rover Freelander (registration year) using UK DVSA open data for the selected test year. Patterns are ranked against similar age and mileage peers. It is a buyer checklist from MOT defect statistics — not a full service history or manufacturer TSB list.
No. MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules. Patterns here come from MOT defect statistics only and should not be read as engine or gearbox reliability scores.
PRS means the vehicle 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.

About this data

Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.

PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle 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.

Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).

Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.

Limitations.

  • MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
  • Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
  • Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
  • Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.

Display rules config: 1

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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See brand-wide MOT rankings and year guidance for Land Rover (separate from this model-year report).