CarVerify

Free Car Check

944 SS

1996 Land Rover Defender

Grey Diesel 2495cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires6 Oct 2026
Tests23 (19 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate82.6%

Mileage

235,976 mi
Last recorded235,976 miles
Recorded on7 Oct 2025
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

Registration944 SS
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1996
ColourGrey
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 4 fail
Pass 7 Oct 2025 235,976 miles

Both front doors & N/S rear door corroded

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (7.1.1 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (7.1.1 (a) (i))

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

Pass 30 Sep 2024 235,888 miles
Pass 19 Sep 2023 235,825 miles
Pass 30 Sep 2022 235,285 miles
Pass 17 Mar 2021 235,214 miles
Fail 15 Mar 2021 235,210 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers likely to become detached lower nut loose (5.3.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Shock absorbers likely to become detached upper nut loose (5.3.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Shock absorbers likely to become detached lower nut loose (5.3.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Pass 25 Nov 2019 235,028 miles
Pass 16 Oct 2018 231,151 miles
Pass 6 Oct 2017 221,261 miles

Offside Front Ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Oil leak ()

Pass 12 Oct 2016 209,809 miles
Pass 10 Oct 2015 199,388 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

oil leak

Pass 21 Oct 2014 185,968 miles

Nearside Front Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

Offside Front Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

slight oil leak

Fail 20 Oct 2014 185,968 miles

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Nearside Front Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

Offside Front Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

slight oil leak

Pass 9 Oct 2013 174,175 miles

Oil leak

all tyres perished

brake pedal rubber worn

rear pads low

rubber bushes and rubber boots starting to perish and split

steering arm boot insecure

Pass 14 Nov 2012 165,383 miles

o/s/r tyre wall showing signs of deteriation

rear exhaust has slight blow

Pass 26 Oct 2011 156,248 miles
Pass 4 Nov 2010 151,822 miles
Pass 22 Oct 2009 149,959 miles
Pass 29 Oct 2008 147,753 miles
Fail 23 Oct 2008 147,741 miles

Ball joint socket spring weak (2.2.B.1e)

Pass 20 Sep 2007 142,898 miles
Fail 18 Sep 2007 142,882 miles

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

Emissions not tested (7.0)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 22 Sep 2006 139,937 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

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

944 SS is a 1996 Land Rover Defender in Grey with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 82.6%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 944 SS, 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 944 SS?

You can check the full history of 944 SS by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was 944 SS registered?

944 SS is a 1996 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 13 August 1996.

Is 944 SS safe to buy?

The MOT history for 944 SS shows 23 tests with a 82.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does 944 SS 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 944 SS. 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.