CarVerify

Free Car Check

537 GCV

2001 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires3 Mar 2027
Tests30 (19 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate63.3%

Mileage

126,201 mi
Last recorded126,201 miles
Recorded on4 Mar 2026
Typical for 2001 Land Rover Defender94,644 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

Registration537 GCV
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year2001
ColourBlue
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

19 pass 11 fail
Pass 4 Mar 2026 126,201 miles

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

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

Fail 18 Feb 2026 126,160 miles

Offside Brake pipe excessively corroded rear feed (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Nearside Rear crossmember materialy weak through excessive corrosion

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

Pass 24 Feb 2025 126,056 miles

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Fail 14 Feb 2025 126,036 miles

Hazard warning switch inoperative (4.4.2 (a) (ii))

Rear reflector missing both (4.8.2 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 16 Feb 2024 125,950 miles

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both feed (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced crossmember (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 27 Sep 2022 125,877 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play rear most (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced cross member corroded (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 28 Sep 2021 125,574 miles

Bonnet mounted spare wheel causes slight restricted visibility

Central Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated rear arms to upper rear axle (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe clips or supports missing, pipe adequately supported securing clip broken (1.1.11 (d) (i))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear bump stop mounting corroded/deteriorated and bump stop loose

Offside Front Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

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

Pass 29 Sep 2020 124,708 miles
Fail 21 Sep 2020 124,665 miles

Fuel cap/sealing device component leaking (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp dip beam (4.2.3 (c))

Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Front Position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp dip beam (4.2.3 (c))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Oil leaking excessively from engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 9 Apr 2019 123,491 miles
Fail 2 Apr 2019 123,466 miles

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

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

Pass 14 Sep 2017 122,669 miles

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

Offside Front tyre worn on inner edge

Offside Rear tyre has various cuts in sidewall, none of which are deeper enough to reach chords

Rear number plate damaged

Fail 12 Sep 2017 122,581 miles

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

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

Offside Front tyre worn on inner edge

Offside Rear tyre has various cuts in sidewall, none of which are deeper enough to reach chords

Rear number plate damaged

Pass 28 Sep 2016 116,967 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Front both tyres worn on inner edges

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

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

Rear registration plate delaminated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Fail 27 Sep 2016 116,966 miles

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting chassi (6.6.6)

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting outrigger (6.6.6)

Trailer electrical socket damaged so that lead cannot be securely connected (1.9.3b)

Rear Stop lamp not working both (1.2.1b) DANGEROUS

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Front both tyres worn on inner edges

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

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

Rear registration plate delaminated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Pass 9 Oct 2015 112,230 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Outer Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Pass 15 Oct 2014 105,765 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Fail 15 Oct 2014 105,765 miles

Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Pass 5 Sep 2013 93,750 miles

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

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

steering lock inop

Pass 28 Aug 2012 78,578 miles

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

Pass 26 Sep 2011 67,136 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Offside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Pass 25 Mar 2010 54,813 miles

Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

both front hub oil seals leaking slightly

horn becoming poor

some wear with front hubs

Pass 9 Mar 2009 50,280 miles

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

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

Rear registration plate damaged but still clearly legible

Fail 3 Mar 2009 50,280 miles

Front Steering damper damaged and unserviceable (2.2.C.1d)

Front registration plate missing (6.3.1a)

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

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

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Nearside Windscreen wiper blade missing (8.2.2)

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

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Power steering component(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

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

Nearside front chassis leg extension appears to be distorted

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

Rear registration plate damaged but still clearly legible

Front and rear universal joints on rear propshaft badly worn

Pass 29 Feb 2008 38,047 miles
Fail 29 Feb 2008 38,046 miles

Offside Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Pass 9 Jan 2007 33,414 miles
Fail 9 Jan 2007 33,414 miles

Front registration plate letter/figure incomplete (6.3.1c)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated (8.2.2)

Steering damper damaged and unserviceable (2.2.C.1d)

Pass 11 Jan 2006 28,552 miles
Fail 11 Jan 2006 28,552 miles

Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated (8.2.2)

Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

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

propshaft defective

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

537 GCV is a 2001 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 30 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.3%.

Across all 2001 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 71.0% with a typical mileage of 94,644 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 537 GCV, 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 25 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 537 GCV?

You can check the full history of 537 GCV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was 537 GCV registered?

537 GCV is a 2001 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 28 February 2001.

Is 537 GCV safe to buy?

The MOT history for 537 GCV shows 30 tests with a 63.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does 537 GCV 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 537 GCV. 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.