2013 Land Rover Freelander 2.2L Diesel · OCC 20S

The most recent DVSA examination on 2 October 2025 resulted in a Pass, although three advisories were issued that warrant careful attention. The offside rear brake pads were noted as wearing thin, the nearside rear tyre was recorded as worn close to the legal limit and on its edge, and the offside track rod end ball joint was found to have slight play. Looking at the broader pattern across the recorded tests, the vehicle has passed five of its seven examinations with no recorded defects, indicating that for several consecutive years the Freelander has been presented in sound mechanical order. The two failures recorded, one in September 2021 relating to headlamp function and washer performance, and one in September 2020 concerning a dangerous brake pad condition and an electronic stability control switch, both appear to be isolated incidents rather than signs of chronic neglect. The presence of the latest advisories, combined with the 2020 brake issue, suggests a recent trend towards front-end wear that a buyer should not dismiss, even though the overall maintenance history reads as broadly stable. The recorded mileage of 110,482 miles across approximately thirteen years equates to an average of around 8,499 miles annually, which is broadly typical for a vehicle of this age and is neither suspiciously low nor exceptionally high. The MOT record shows annual tests, suggesting the vehicle has been in regular use rather than left standing for extended periods, which is generally favourable for the health of mechanical components, the drivetrain, and the braking system. That said, the mileage progression between tests would benefit from closer scrutiny to confirm there are no sudden unexplained jumps that might indicate clocking, though the broadly annual pattern of testing combined with an averaged usage rate is reassuring. Regular use of this nature typically means consumables such as brake discs, pads, tyres, and suspension components have experienced proportionate wear rather than deterioration through prolonged inactivity. The recurring presence of track rod end advisories is notable, with both front track rod end dust covers reported as damaged in 2021, and now slight play identified on the offside track rod end in the most recent test. A buyer should inspect the steering for any knocking or rattling over uneven road surfaces, vagueness around the straight-ahead position, or uneven tyre wear particularly on the inner or outer edges, as these are classic symptoms of worn steering linkages. The offside rear brake pad advisory, together with the 2020 dangerous pad finding, indicates that brake pad wear should be a priority inspection point, and the nearside rear tyre should be replaced regardless of tread depth if it shows any signs of feathering or uneven shoulder wear. A test drive should include firm pedal applications to check for pulling, vibration through the pedal suggesting warped discs, or any grinding noises from the rear. Beyond the recorded advisories, a thirteen year old Freelander at this mileage warrants several age and usage related checks regardless of the MOT outcome. Brake discs are likely nearing the end of their service life and should be inspected for lipping, corrosion, and surface scoring, while the flexible brake hoses and rear caliper slide pins merit a visual inspection for seizing, particularly given the rear brake pad advisory history. The 2013 Freelander is well known for ageing suspension components including upper and lower wishbone bushes, anti-roll bar links, and rear trailing arm bushes, all of which can deteriorate without immediately triggering an MOT failure but produce clonking noises over speed humps and minor undulations. Given the vehicle's age, the 12 volt battery should be load tested, the coolant strength verified to provide adequate corrosion protection, the transmission and transfer box fluids checked for service history, and the timing belt replacement interval confirmed if applicable to the engine variant, as neglect of these calendar based items can lead to far costlier failures than any wear related defect recorded at annual test.