2016 Land Rover Range Rover 4.4L Diesel · 71 GKM

The defining mechanical story of this Range Rover is a stubborn, repeating front suspension defect paired with a persistent supplementary restraint system warning, both of which have now appeared across the most recent two MOT cycles. In December 2025 the vehicle was submitted for test and failed on a PRS (pass after rectification at station) basis because the airbag/SRS warning lamp was indicating a fault, while at the same examination a minor was recorded for severely deteriorated ball joint dust covers on both front lower suspension arms. This is not an isolated event: the identical combination recurred at the December 2024 test, where the same SRS warning lamp defect was again failed on a PRS basis, and the offside front lower ball joint dust cover was again flagged as severely deteriorated. The 2023 test continued the pattern with a further minor for the offside front lower ball joint cover. The most recent pass on 18 December 2025 therefore represents the bare minimum of compliance rather than a clean bill of health, and the chronology indicates that the underlying suspension wear and the SRS electrical fault have not been definitively resolved across at least three test cycles. With ten years on the road and 70,894 recorded miles, the vehicle has averaged roughly 7,089 miles per year, which sits comfortably within the typical bracket for its age and class. There are no significant gaps in the testing record and no evidence of extended periods off the road, so the mileage accumulation appears steady and continuous rather than the product of a long lay-up followed by a sudden spike in use. Mechanically, this consistent level of use is broadly favourable for a complex four-wheel-drive luxury vehicle, as the transmission, transfer box, air suspension compressor, differentials and brake system have all been worked regularly rather than left to seize or degrade through inactivity. The mileage figure alone, however, tells nothing about the quality of the fluids changes, air suspension struts or electrical modules that are known wear items on this model at this age. For a prospective buyer, the front suspension components flagged across three consecutive tests warrant close physical inspection. The lower ball joint dust covers being severely deteriorated means the internal joint is no longer sealed against water and grit ingress, which accelerates wear of the taper and can eventually produce a knocking or clunking over speed humps, on full-lock manoeuvres, and during sharp direction changes, as well as vague or wandering steering. With the defect now present on both sides rather than just the offside, the wear has effectively doubled in scope, and a thorough inspection should include checking for free play at each front lower ball joint, play in the lower control arm bushes, and any accompanying wear in the front anti-roll bar drop links and bushings. Given that the same item has been re-recorded at three successive tests, replacement of the joints and gaiters is a sensible pre-purchase action, and a corresponding quote should be sought. The supplementary restraint system warning lamp defect is arguably the more pressing concern and should not be dismissed simply because the vehicle subsequently passed after rectification. Airbag and SRS warning faults on this generation of Range Rover are frequently traced to faulty seat harness connectors under the front seats, clock spring failure in the steering column, or seat occupancy mat sensor degradation, and the repair often does not permanently resolve the issue. A buyer should request sight of the rectification invoice from both 2024 and 2025 to confirm exactly what was repaired, and should verify that the SRS lamp extinguishes promptly on ignition and stays off during a slow drive. Beyond these headline items, the 2022 advisories for worn and pitted brake discs and thinning brake pads across all four corners, together with the 2022 entry noting a nail in a nearside rear tyre and rear tyres worn to 2mm on the inner edge, suggest a vehicle whose braking and tyre condition has historically been run close to the legal limit. On a test drive, listen for brake squeal or grinding, feel for pedal judder under firm braking, check for steering pull, and confirm that the tyres are of matching brand, size and tread depth across the axle. A full underbody inspection for corrosion, particularly around the rear subframe mounting points and brake pipes, would also be prudent on a vehicle of this age and luxury-class complexity.