CarVerify

Free Car Check

489 PMG

1996 Land Rover Defender

White Diesel 2495cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires2 Apr 2027
Tests27 (16 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate59.3%

Mileage

188,134 mi
Last recorded188,134 miles
Recorded on26 Mar 2026
Typical for 1996 Land Rover Defender122,435 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

Registration489 PMG
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1996
ColourWhite
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,495cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

16 pass 11 fail
Pass 26 Mar 2026 188,134 miles

Nearside Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 28 Mar 2025 175,995 miles

Coil spring corroded all 4 (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread cracked (0.1 (b))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Steering box leaking oil (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Steering linkage ball joint has slight play panhard bush (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Fail 28 Mar 2025 175,995 miles

Emissions unable to be completed rear tail pipe broken (8.2.2.2 (e))

Exhaust emissions likely to be affected by an exhaust leak (8.2.2.1 (b))

Nearside Rear Lower Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Coil spring corroded all 4 (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread cracked (0.1 (b))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Steering box leaking oil (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Steering linkage ball joint has slight play panhard bush (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 25 Mar 2024 162,709 miles

Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush split and perished (5.3.2 (c))

Nearside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush split and perished (5.3.2 (c))

Pass 3 Apr 2023 153,517 miles

Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front swivel leaking

Nearside Rear Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush split and perished (5.3.2 (c))

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush split and perished (5.3.2 (c))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Steering box has seepage (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Fail 24 Mar 2023 153,517 miles

Battery insecure and likely to cause a short circuit (4.13 (a) (ii))

Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced battery box (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Wheel bearing has excessive play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front swivel leaking

Nearside Rear Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush split and perished (5.3.2 (c))

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush split and perished (5.3.2 (c))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Steering box has seepage (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Pass 8 Mar 2022 144,956 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Pass 16 Mar 2021 138,501 miles

Nearside Front Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Offside Front Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Fail 16 Mar 2021 138,501 miles

Nearside Front Suspension rod pin or bush excessively worn pan hard rod (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Offside Front Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 26 Mar 2020 133,150 miles

offside front wheel bearing has slight play

Fail 26 Mar 2020 133,146 miles

Fuel system component leaking (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))

offside front wheel bearing has slight play

Pass 6 Dec 2018 122,304 miles

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

centre exhaust fitment poor

Fail 3 Dec 2018 122,300 miles

All direction indicators incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn front bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers insecurely attached bolt loose (5.3.2 (a) (i))

Steering column universal joint insecure to the extent there is excessive movement at the mountings (2.1.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement front bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

centre exhaust fitment poor

Pass 24 Nov 2017 114,115 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

centre exhaust rubber missing

rear exhaust system getting corroded

Pass 5 Dec 2016 105,180 miles

nearside front lower suspension arm bushes deteriorated and have slight movement

offside front lower suspension arm bushes deteriorated and have slight movement

steering box damp

Fail 5 Dec 2016 105,180 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Rear Suspension arm attachment bracket/mounting insecure centre (2.4.G.1)

nearside front lower suspension arm bushes deteriorated and have slight movement

offside front lower suspension arm bushes deteriorated and have slight movement

steering box damp

Pass 11 Dec 2015 94,002 miles

centre exhaust rubber broken but system is supported

Fail 8 Dec 2015 93,994 miles

Centre Front Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

Nearside Front Brake hose has insufficient room to move, resulting in fouling on any part hitting tyre on full lock (3.6.B.4a)

Nearside Front Brake hose has insufficient room to move, resulting in fouling on any part inner wing (3.6.B.4a)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Front Ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt steering drop arm (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Front Brake hose has insufficient room to move, resulting in fouling on any part inner wing (3.6.B.4a)

Offside Front Front position lamp(s) adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

Offside Front Headlamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.7.5c)

Offside Front Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

centre exhaust rubber broken but system is supported

Pass 7 Nov 2014 84,013 miles
Fail 31 Oct 2014 83,972 miles

Centre Front Ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Nearside Front Fluid suspension unit leaking (2.4.D.2)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Front Brake hose has insufficient room to move, resulting in fouling on any part (3.6.B.4a)

Nearside Front Axle swivel joint has excessive play (2.5.A.3b) DANGEROUS

Oil leak

centre exhaust rubber deteriorated

Pass 4 Nov 2013 75,059 miles

Bulk head slight corrosion

O/S front out rigger slight corrosion

Oil leak

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Power steering pump has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Fail 26 Oct 2013 74,829 miles

Offside Steering arm has relative movement at its fixings (2.2.B.1h)

Steering box has a significant oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

Bulk head slight corrosion

O/S front out rigger slight corrosion

Oil leak

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Power steering pump has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Pass 26 Oct 2012 62,946 miles

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Oil leak

Some corrosion in chassis members and brake disc shields.

Some corrosion of brake pipes.(various sections not exposed for inspection.)

Fail 18 Oct 2012 62,830 miles

Brake vacuum build up too slow (3.3.E.6)

Nearside Drag link end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Power steering fluid level below minimum (2.3.1)

Offside Drag link end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f) DANGEROUS

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Oil leak

Some corrosion in chassis members and brake disc shields.

Pass 20 Oct 2011 51,580 miles
Fail 12 Oct 2011 51,580 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Rear Bonded suspension unit bonding failed and part of unit is likely to become displaced (2.4.F.2)

Nearside Rear Lower Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear Bonded suspension unit bonding failed and part of unit is likely to become displaced (2.4.F.2)

Offside Rear Lower Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

o/s front top shocker mount corroded

rear x/member not welded to chassis properly

rear fuel tank mounting corroded

Pass 7 Dec 2010 45,119 miles

offside rear chassis corroded and fractured adjacent to body mounting

How Reliable is the Land Rover Defender?

Based on 2,960,045 MOT tests across 181,953 vehicles.

72.3%
Pass Rate
3,550
Miles/Year
43
Year Lifespan
181,953
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush 77,499
Brake pipe excessively corroded 77,229
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 57,749
position lamp(s) not working 53,914
Stop lamp not working 52,341
Full Land Rover Defender reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

489 PMG is a 1996 Land Rover Defender in White with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 59.3%.

Across all 1996 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.0% with a typical mileage of 122,435 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Land Rover Defender fails its MOT is shock absorber has an excessively worn bush, accounting for 77,499 recorded failures. If you're considering buying 489 PMG, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Land Rover Defender typically stays on UK roads for around 43 years. At 30 years old, this Land Rover Defender is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of 489 PMG?

You can check the full history of 489 PMG by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was 489 PMG registered?

489 PMG is a 1996 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 31 December 1996.

Is 489 PMG safe to buy?

The MOT history for 489 PMG shows 27 tests with a 59.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does 489 PMG have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on 489 PMG. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.