2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport 5.0L Diesel · R50 TAV

The defining feature of this Range Rover Sport's history is a chronic pattern of brake and tyre wear that culminated in a dangerous-condition failure in June 2026, when the tester recorded front and rear brake pads below 1.5mm on both axles, an offside rear tyre below the 1.6mm legal tread minimum, and a significantly stretched offside rear seat belt. That same vehicle had passed with advisories for thin brake pads in 2022, 2024 and 2025, meaning the pads were allowed to wear from advisory status through to a dangerous defect rather than being replaced when first flagged. A retest on 16 June 2026 produced a pass, indicating the pads, tyre and belt were rectified, but the inner edges of both front tyres remain worn close to the legal limit as standing advisories. The overall trend is therefore one of recurring consumable wear addressed late, and the record cannot be described as strong despite the current pass. Recorded mileage stands at 121,926 miles over roughly sixteen years, averaging about 7,620 miles per year, which is typical for the age and suggests regular use rather than prolonged storage. There is a notable gap in the test record between October 2019 and May 2021, consistent with the pandemic-era MOT extension period, but no evidence of a multi-year lay-up. The annual rhythm of tests each May or June shows consistent use, and the mileage accumulation aligns with the steady consumption of tyres and brake friction material seen across the advisories. On a vehicle of this weight and complexity, that usage level means suspension bushes, air suspension components and drivetrain wear items are all at an age and mileage where deterioration should be expected even where not yet flagged. The repeated inner-edge tyre wear on both front tyres, recorded in 2022 and again in 2026, points to a likely geometry issue such as incorrect toe settings or worn suspension components rather than simple tread consumption. On a test drive, check for steering pull, a wandering straight-ahead position, and uneven shoulder wear on replacement tyres, and budget for a four-wheel alignment check plus inspection of front control arm bushes and ball joints. The 2019 advisory for slight play in the propshaft centre bearing should be revisited: listen for a driveline thump or vibration on pull-away and under load, as play in that bearing typically worsens with mileage and can damage the prop shaft if left. Braking performance deserves particular scrutiny given that pads on both axles reached dangerous wear levels in June 2026 and front discs were already noted as worn in 2024. Confirm that discs as well as pads were renewed, feel for pedal judder or pulsing under firm braking from speed, and check for any pulling to one side that might indicate a binding caliper. The offside rear seat belt, flagged as frayed in 2024 and failed as significantly stretched in 2026, should be physically inspected to confirm replacement rather than a cosmetic tidy-up. Finally, verify the offside rear tyre that failed on tread depth was replaced with a matching tyre across the axle, as mismatched rolling radii on a four-wheel-drive vehicle can strain the transfer case and centre differential.