Range Rover Velar MOT Failures: Common Issues & Parts Guide (L560, 2017–Present)

The Range Rover Velar filled the gap between the Evoque and the Range Rover Sport — a mid-size luxury SUV with striking design, flush door handles, and a minimalist interior built around twin touchscreens. Sharing its PTA platform with the Jaguar F-Pace, it's available with 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel and petrol engines, the 3.0-litre supercharged V6, and later a P400e plug-in hybrid. With 33,373 MOT tests recorded in 2024, the Velar provides a substantial dataset. Here's what's failing.

Velar MOT Pass Rate

The Velar holds a strong 87.7% MOT pass rate — 11.0 percentage points above the UK average of 76.7%. It sits comfortably among the best-performing JLR models, with the 2021 cars pushing towards 90%.

The median mileage at MOT is 42,830 miles — moderate, reflecting the Velar's role as a premium daily driver rather than a high-mileage workhorse. With 6,828 failure items from 33,373 tests, the Velar averages 0.20 failures per test.

1. Tyres & Wheels — 33.8% of All Failures

Tyres are the largest failure category at 33.8% (2,311 items).

What Fails

• Tyre seriously damaged — 1,009 failures (the #1 item — 14.8% of all failures)
• Tyre tread depth non-compliant — 741 failures
• Tyre cords visible or damaged — 225 failures
• TPMS malfunctioning — 79 failures
• Loose or missing wheel nut/bolt — 74 failures
• Tyre lump, bulge or tear — 53 failures

The combined tyre tread and damage counts are very high for a car with just 42,830 miles median mileage. The Velar weighs around 1,800–2,000 kg (lighter than the full-size Range Rover but still heavy), and the popular 20" and 21" wheel options with low-profile tyres are susceptible to pothole damage. The tread depth count at 741 — 1 in 45 cars — suggests rapid tyre wear, possibly compounded by the AWD system and heavy kerb weight.

What You Need

Tip: The 19" wheels are the most practical option for UK roads. Larger alloys with lower-profile tyres look better but wear faster and are far more susceptible to pothole damage. Check tyre condition at every service — the Velar wears tyres faster than most cars in its class.

2. Brakes — 17.2% of Failures

Brakes are the second-largest category at 17.2% (1,174 items).

What Fails

• Brake lining/pad worn below 1.5mm — 633 failures (the #4 item — 1 in 53 cars)
• Brake disc significantly worn — 173 failures
• Brake pad worn to wear indicator — 147 failures
• Brake disc excessively weakened or fractured — 74 failures
• Brake hose ferrule corroded — 46 failures

The pad wear at 633 is high for a car averaging 42,830 miles — the Velar's weight drives faster pad consumption than the F-Pace despite sharing the same platform. The fractured disc count at 74 is notable — discs running past their service life.

What You Need

Tip: If replacing pads, always check the discs — at this pad wear rate, the discs are often due at the same time. Don't ignore the pad wear indicator light — by the time it triggers, the pads are close to the MOT limit.

3. Visibility — 15.1% of Failures

Visibility is an unusually high 15.1% (1,031 items) — driven almost entirely by wiper blade failures.

What Fails

• Wiper blade not clearing windscreen — 830 failures (the #2 item — 12.2% of all failures, 1 in 40 cars)
• Windscreen washers non-functional — 179 failures

The wiper blade count at 830 is extraordinary — it's the #2 individual failure on the entire car, and 1 in 40 Velars fails on wipers alone. This is the highest wiper failure rate of any vehicle we've analysed in relative terms. The Velar's raked windscreen and aerodynamic blade design may contribute — the blades don't clear as effectively as conventional designs, and owners may not notice gradual deterioration until the MOT.

What You Need

Tip: Replace the wipers before every MOT — they're cheap and it's the second most common reason for failure. The Velar's blade design matters: use the correct OEM-spec flat blades, not cheap universal replacements.

4. Suspension — 10.7% of Failures

Suspension accounts for 10.7% (728 items), with a notable model-specific issue.

What Fails

• Steering ball joint with excessive wear — 374 failures (the #6 item — 1 in 89 cars)
• Suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn — 114 failures
• Steering rack gaiter deteriorated — 113 failures
• Shock absorber damaged or leaking — 47 failures

The steering ball joint count at 374 is a standout — the same issue seen on the Jaguar I-Pace and F-Pace that share the platform. At this mileage, it appears to be a design weakness rather than normal wear.

What You Need

5. Emissions & Engine Management — 8.1% of Failures

Emissions account for 8.1% (552 items) — notably high for a modern car.

What Fails

• Engine MIL illuminated — 477 failures (the #5 item — 1 in 70 cars)

The MIL count at 477 — 1 in 70 Velars — is the highest MIL rate of any modern JLR vehicle we've covered. On the 2.0 Ingenium diesel (the dominant engine), DPF regeneration failures, EGR valve clogging, and AdBlue/NOx sensor faults are the main triggers. Many Velars are urban-driven, which prevents the DPF from regenerating properly — and incomplete regen causes the oil dilution that accelerates timing chain wear.

What You Need

Tip: If you drive a diesel Velar, take it on the motorway for 20+ minutes at least once a fortnight to allow the DPF to regenerate. Short urban journeys are the #1 cause of MIL failures on this car — and incomplete regen also accelerates timing chain wear through oil dilution. It's a cascading problem.

6. Lamps & Lighting — 7.5% of Failures

What Fails

• Number plate does not conform — 213 failures
• Headlamp aim outside limits — 122 failures
• Direction indicator inoperative — 93 failures
• SRS (airbag) MIL malfunction — 70 failures
• Headlamp cleaning device inoperative — 70 failures
• Fog lamp inoperative — 54 failures

What You Need

Beyond the MOT: Major Velar Faults That Drive Workshop Visits

Timing Chain Failure (2.0 Ingenium Diesel)

The same critical Ingenium diesel weakness that affects the XE, XF, E-Pace, Discovery Sport, and Evoque. Oil dilution from incomplete DPF regen stretches the timing chain. The 2017 and 2018 model years are highest risk. The upgraded chain from late 2019 reduces but doesn't eliminate the issue. A cold-start rattle and "Restricted Performance" warnings are the early signs.

Infotainment & Touch Screen Issues

The Velar's dual touchscreen setup (Touch Pro Duo) is a known weakness — screens freeze, go black, or respond sluggishly. The lower screen's haptic feedback can fail. Software updates have improved reliability but the hardware can also develop faults.

Flush Door Handle Failure

The Velar's electrically deployable flush door handles are a signature design element — and a known failure point. The mechanism can stick, fail to deploy, or refuse to retract. The handle motors are the usual culprit. Freezing weather can also prevent deployment.

Water Pump & Cooling System (3.0 V6 Supercharged)

The 3.0 V6 shares the same cooling system vulnerabilities as other JLR supercharged engines — water pump bearing corrosion and brittle plastic coolant pipes.

Air Suspension (If Equipped)

The optional air suspension carries the familiar JLR air spring, compressor, and valve block risks. Not standard on all Velars — many run on conventional coil springs.

ZF 8-Speed Gearbox

The same ZF 8HP gearbox issues — jerky shifts, delayed engagement. Fluid change every 60,000–80,000 miles is recommended.

Electrical & Battery Drain

The Velar is sensitive to 12V battery health — a weak battery triggers cascading warnings. The flush door handles, always-on touchscreens, and multiple ECUs create significant parasitic drain.

Velar MOT Failure Summary — At a Glance

Keeping Your Range Rover Velar on the Road

The Velar is a strong MOT performer at 87.7% — its aluminium body eliminates corrosion (0.1%), and at 7–9 years old, most components are still within their design life. The failure profile is dominated by three things: tyres (33.8%), brakes (17.2%), and wipers (15.1%) — all straightforward consumables.

The standout concern is the engine management light at 477 failures (1 in 70 cars) — the highest MIL rate of any modern JLR model. This is almost entirely driven by the Ingenium diesel's DPF issues on urban-driven cars. If you own a diesel Velar, drive it on the motorway regularly. The cascading effect of blocked DPF → oil dilution → timing chain stretch makes this the single most important ownership habit.

Replace the wipers before every MOT (it's the #2 failure), keep on top of tyre condition, and service it on schedule. Do that, and the Velar is a reliable and rewarding ownership proposition.

Browse all Range Rover Velar (2017–present) parts at myton.parts

We stock genuine, OEM, and aftermarket parts with next-day UK delivery available.

Service & Maintenance Parts

Regular servicing with the correct oil specification is critical for Ingenium diesel timing chain longevity. Gearbox fluid should be changed every 60,000–80,000 miles.

Data sourced from DVSA anonymised MOT test results (2024 test year, 33,373 tests on Range Rover Velar models with first use dates 2017–2021). 6,828 individual failure items analysed. Specialist fault data from K Motors and Land Rover workshop reporting.