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561 GUW

1985 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires6 Apr 2026
Tests34 (21 pass, 13 fail)
Pass rate61.8%

Mileage

290,749 mi
Last recorded290,749 miles
Recorded on7 Apr 2025
Typical for 1985 Land Rover Defender122,807 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Vehicle Details

Registration561 GUW
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1985
ColourGreen
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

21 pass 13 fail
Pass 7 Apr 2025 290,749 miles

Both rear reflectors deteriorated

Fuel filler neck damp with diesel, no leak visible at time of test

Nearside Front Outer Drive shaft joint worn, but not excessively has close to excessive movement (6.1.7 (c) (i))

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 19 Mar 2024 289,142 miles

Both front outer hub oil seals leaking

Nearside Front Outer Drive shaft joint worn, but not excessively has play (6.1.7 (c) (i))

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component Steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 10 Feb 2023 288,465 miles

Both front hub oil seals leaking

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

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement trailing arm front and rear bushes worn close to excess (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component Steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Rear anti roll bar bushes

Fail 10 Feb 2023 288,465 miles

Both front hub oil seals leaking

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement trailing arm front and rear bushes worn close to excess (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component Steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Rear anti roll bar bushes

Pass 11 Feb 2022 286,605 miles

Both front and offside rear hub oil seals leaking

Both front wheel bearings have slight play

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

Nearside Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

Nearside rear trailing arm bush worn

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake master cylinder/servo mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive bulk head by brake servo mount (1.1.21 (e) (i))

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

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box to drop arm (2.1.5 (a))

Rear A frame bushes worn

Rear A frame mounts corroded

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

all four coil springs corroded

rear anti roll bar bushes worn

Fail 8 Feb 2022 286,602 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Both front and offside rear hub oil seals leaking

Both front wheel bearings have slight play

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

Nearside Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

Nearside rear trailing arm bush worn

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake master cylinder/servo mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive bulk head by brake servo mount (1.1.21 (e) (i))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

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

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box to drop arm (2.1.5 (a))

Rear A frame bushes worn

Rear A frame mounts corroded

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

all four coil springs corroded

rear anti roll bar bushes worn

Pass 9 Feb 2021 283,966 miles

Nearside Drag link end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Headlamp lens slightly defective deteriorated (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing corrosion (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Headlamp lens slightly defective deteriorated (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing corrosion (5.3.2 (b))

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

Pass 7 Feb 2020 282,052 miles

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

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

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

n/s/r tyre starting to go out of shape on inner edge

Fail 31 Jan 2020 282,051 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.2.3 (c))

Offside Front Tyre has a lump, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure inner edge (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Nearside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

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

Offside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

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

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

n/s/r tyre starting to go out of shape on inner edge

Pass 7 Jun 2019 281,791 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

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

o/s/f tyre starting to go out of shape on inner edge

Fail 7 Jun 2019 281,790 miles

Nearside Headlamp light intensity severely reduced (4.1.4 (a))

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

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

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

o/s/f tyre starting to go out of shape on inner edge

Pass 12 Jun 2018 273,968 miles

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

Fail 12 Jun 2018 273,967 miles

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

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

Pass 16 May 2017 264,250 miles

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

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

slight corrosion to battery box

Fail 16 May 2017 264,249 miles

Drag link end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Hazard warning tell tale not working correctly (1.4.B.1e)

Nearside Rear reflector excessively damaged so that its function is impaired (1.5.1c)

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

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

slight corrosion to battery box

Pass 23 May 2016 253,384 miles

Offside Front Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

Pass 26 May 2015 242,773 miles
Pass 28 Apr 2014 236,074 miles

Coolant leak

Nearside Front Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

Nearside Front Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

Nearside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Front Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

Offside Front Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

Offside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

drivers side floorwell corroded

n/s wiper blade split

o/s wiper blade split

passenger side floorwell corroded

slight play in steering box

Pass 10 Oct 2013 234,683 miles
Pass 20 Feb 2013 233,243 miles

rear bump stops missing

Fail 19 Feb 2013 233,243 miles

Offside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

rear bump stops missing

Fail 4 Jan 2013 233,209 miles

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

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

Front passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

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

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

both front hubs damp

both rear coil springs very rusty

corrosion n/s o/s front floors

front brake discs badly corroded and deterioated

oil leak

rear exhaust section corroded

slight corrosion to rear brake discs

Pass 11 Jan 2012 226,843 miles

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

Fail 11 Jan 2012 226,843 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 18 Jan 2011 223,791 miles
Fail 18 Jan 2011 223,791 miles

Offside Front Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Fail 7 Jan 2011 223,775 miles

Braking system leaking (3.6.A.1)

Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Front Seat belt retracting mechanism defective (5.2.5b)

Nearside Front coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a)

Nearside Outer Front Brake pipe fouled by moving parts (3.6.B.2a)

Offside Front Brake hose bulging under pressure (3.6.B.3)

Offside Front coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a)

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

Pass 16 Dec 2009 217,872 miles

Nearside Outer Lower Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

Fail 15 Dec 2009 217,872 miles

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

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front brake disc contaminated by oil (3.5.1h)

Nearside Outer Lower Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

Fail 3 Nov 2008 205,701 miles

Hazard warning switch faulty (1.4.B.1d)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 3 Nov 2008 205,701 miles

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 23 Oct 2007 200,800 miles
Pass 11 Oct 2006 197,716 miles
Pass 29 Sep 2005 188,913 miles

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

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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

561 GUW is a 1985 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 34 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 61.8%.

Across all 1985 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.3% with a typical mileage of 122,807 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 561 GUW, 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 41 years old, this Land Rover Defender is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of 561 GUW?

You can check the full history of 561 GUW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was 561 GUW registered?

561 GUW is a 1985 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 1 August 1985.

Is 561 GUW safe to buy?

The MOT history for 561 GUW shows 34 tests with a 61.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does 561 GUW 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 561 GUW. 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.