2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport 3.6L Diesel · EV05 ANS

The 2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport presents a mechanical profile characterised by persistent advising rather than consistent success, with the latest MOT on 2026-02-09 recording only an oil leak advisory while earlier entries reveal a troubling pattern of recurring failures across multiple systems. Two separate failures occurred in January 2025—both involving oil leakage alongside deteriorating rear tyres worn close to legal limits—and a third failure in February 2024 was driven by severely weakened seat belt webbing on both front and rear positions. These failures are not isolated incidents but rather indicators of underlying system degradation that re-emerged even after a successful 2024 MOT, suggesting that corrective actions taken at that time did not fully resolve the root causes of the mechanical stress experienced by the vehicle over its sixteen-year lifespan. At 111,409 miles on a 2010 model, the vehicle accumulates approximately 6,963 miles annually, which represents a reasonable pace for its age given the total odometer reading. However, the timing of the test failures indicates that wear accumulated rapidly enough to trigger dangerous conditions within short intervals between assessments. The progression from a clean 2024 MOT result through two failed tests in late 2024 and early 2025 demonstrates that the vehicle's systems have been under increasing strain, particularly around the rear suspension and braking assemblies, and the current passing status on 2026-02-09 appears contingent upon continued adherence to minor adjustments rather than fundamental repair completion. Focused examination should prioritise the rear brake pads, which measured less than 1.5 millimetres thick at the time of the 2025 failure, presenting an immediate danger of complete pad failure and loss of braking performance on hard stops. The rear tyres, repeatedly flagged as worn close to the legal limit, warrant visual inspection for uneven wear patterns that would signal alignment or suspension geometry issues compounding the original tyre deterioration. Additionally, the seat belt webbing failures documented in 2024 and again in 2025 require urgent attention as compromised webbing can fail catastrophically during sudden loading or driving events, potentially causing serious injury. During a test drive, listen for any grinding or knotting sounds from the brake calipers, observe whether the rear tyres maintain consistent contact patches through turns, and verify that seat belt buckles engage securely without visible deformation or fraying throughout the entire seating position. Beyond these primary concerns, the persistent oil leak advisory noted in every MOT entry since 2025 warrants systematic investigation regardless of the most recent passing result, as unaddressed oil leakage can indicate contamination of the cooling system or transmission fluid pathways and may eventually lead to catastrophic engine or transmission damage. Given the high mileage and the documented history of critical system failures, a pre-purchase professional inspection should concentrate on the rear brake line integrity, subframe and chassis corrosion points, and the structural soundness of the rear suspension mounting points where the severe tyre wear originated. If the initial inspection confirms the severity of the brake pad thinning and seat belt webbing compromise, the financial and safety implications for the prospective buyer are substantial, making this vehicle a candidate for negotiation or withdrawal until these specific deficiencies are resolved to an acceptable standard.