CarVerify

Free Car Check

A160 PDE

1996 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2494cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires3 Jun 2027
Tests35 (20 pass, 15 fail)
Pass rate57.1%

Mileage

225,958 mi
Last recorded225,958 miles
Recorded on28 May 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

RegistrationA160 PDE
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1996
ColourBlue
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,494cc

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

20 pass 15 fail
Pass 28 May 2026 225,958 miles

Front Wheel bearing has slight play n/s and o/s (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Both rear and o/s/f (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 4 Jun 2025 225,507 miles

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

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

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

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

Fail 2 Jun 2025 225,507 miles

Offside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

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

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

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

Fail 7 May 2025 225,505 miles

Brake servo inoperative (1.1.10 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing o/s front and both rear (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 27 Mar 2024 224,871 miles
Pass 23 Feb 2023 224,860 miles
Fail 9 Feb 2023 224,855 miles

Bonnet cannot be secured in the closed position (3.1 (b) (i))

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

Pass 16 Feb 2022 223,427 miles

Front Prop shaft damaged but serviceable (6.1.7 (e))

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

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

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

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

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

Fail 9 Feb 2022 223,427 miles

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

Registration plate lamp does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamps (4.7.2 (a))

Front Prop shaft damaged but serviceable (6.1.7 (e))

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 11 Jan 2021 219,777 miles
Fail 7 Dec 2020 219,777 miles

Front Registration plate inscription illegible (0.1 (b))

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Cab floor corroded N/S and O/S

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

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

Pass 29 Jun 2019 213,249 miles

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

Fail 27 Jun 2019 213,249 miles

Hazard warning lamps inoperative (4.4.1 (e))

Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour o/s and n/s (4.4.3 (a))

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 13 Jul 2018 208,443 miles

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

Fail 13 Jul 2018 208,443 miles

Offside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

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

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

Pass 18 Jul 2017 202,854 miles
Fail 18 Jul 2017 202,854 miles

Nearside Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 29 Jul 2016 196,510 miles

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

Fail 28 Jul 2016 196,483 miles

Offside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

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

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

Pass 30 Jul 2015 190,275 miles
Fail 22 May 2015 190,145 miles

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

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

Nearside Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.2.C.1h)

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

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

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on (8.2.1b)

Both rear tyres badly cracked/perished

Excessive corrosion to a body mount, but not effecting overall body security

Steering damper has excessive play in a bush

Pass 12 May 2014 183,621 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Steering damper bush has play

Fail 12 May 2014 183,621 miles

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

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

Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Steering damper bush has play

Pass 22 May 2013 176,231 miles
Fail 20 May 2013 176,231 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Front Axle swivel joint has excessive play in a swivel pin (2.5.A.3b)

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

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

Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Pass 21 May 2012 167,787 miles

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

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

Fail 16 May 2012 167,744 miles

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

Offside Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.2.C.1h)

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

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

Pass 20 May 2011 158,907 miles

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

offside front and offside rear indicator lense faded

steering idle arm bush free play

Fail 19 May 2011 158,903 miles

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

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

offside front and offside rear indicator lense faded

steering idle arm bush free play

Pass 21 May 2010 147,621 miles
Pass 7 May 2009 137,234 miles

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

Pass 2 May 2008 127,618 miles
Pass 2 May 2007 117,736 miles

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

Fail 30 Apr 2007 117,730 miles

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

Offside Front Seat belt has a cut which has significantly weakened the webbing (5.2.2a)

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

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

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

rear numberplate

steering damper bush offside

Pass 3 May 2006 107,149 miles

Front Steering damper deformed but serviceable (2.2.C.1d)

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

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

Offside Front Headlamp damaged but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

freeplay in rear u/j on propshaft

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

A160 PDE is a 1996 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,494cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 35 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 57.1%.

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 A160 PDE, 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 A160 PDE?

You can check the full history of A160 PDE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was A160 PDE registered?

A160 PDE is a 1996 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 21 March 1996.

Is A160 PDE safe to buy?

The MOT history for A160 PDE shows 35 tests with a 57.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A160 PDE 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 A160 PDE. 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.