CarVerify

Free Car Check

A285 JFV

1983 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2286cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires7 Apr 2027
Tests17 (11 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate64.7%

Mileage

196,767 mi
Last recorded196,767 miles
Recorded on8 Apr 2026
Typical for 1983 Land Rover Defender109,986 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 £14.99

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

RegistrationA285 JFV
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1983
ColourGreen
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,286cc

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

11 pass 6 fail
Pass 8 Apr 2026 196,767 miles
Pass 28 Sep 2024 195,908 miles
Pass 16 Sep 2023 195,288 miles
Pass 5 Aug 2022 193,578 miles
Pass 18 Sep 2012 188,694 miles

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

general under body corrosion

Fail 13 Sep 2012 188,660 miles

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

Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

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

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

general under body corrosion

Pass 9 Sep 2011 186,492 miles

Oil leak

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

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

chassis has surface corrosion,front tractor joints weeping,number plate light slightly dim,nearside front tyre has cuts in the sidewall but not to the cords.

nearside rear tyre has cuts in the tread but not to the cords,nearside rear chassis,bump stop area corroded but not excessive enough to fail,offside front chassis,trailing arm area corroded but not excessive enough to fail.

Pass 16 Jul 2010 183,032 miles

Centre Rear Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Oil leak

Fail 21 Jun 2010 183,011 miles

Brake pedal creeps down while the pedal is held under pressure (3.3.B.1a)

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

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

Offside Front Steering retaining device insecure (2.2.C.1g)

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Pass 24 Jun 2009 179,619 miles

Oil leak

steering damper bush worn

Fail 12 Jun 2009 179,608 miles

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

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged sufficient to obstruct correct operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged sufficient to obstruct correct operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Oil leak

steering damper bush worn

Pass 1 Jul 2008 175,890 miles

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

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

Fail 26 Jun 2008 175,808 miles

Driver's door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

Offside Front Panhard rod has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Steering box has relative movement between sector shaft and the drop arm (2.2.B.1b)

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

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

steering damper bushes worn

Pass 2 Jul 2007 169,899 miles
Fail 2 Jul 2007 169,899 miles

Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine (7.4.B.3b)

Pass 26 Jun 2006 161,308 miles
Fail 26 Jun 2006 161,307 miles

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

Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

A285 JFV is a 1983 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,286cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 17 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.7%.

Across all 1983 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 68.8% with a typical mileage of 109,986 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 A285 JFV, 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 43 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 A285 JFV?

You can check the full history of A285 JFV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was A285 JFV registered?

A285 JFV is a 1983 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 11 August 1983.

Is A285 JFV safe to buy?

The MOT history for A285 JFV shows 17 tests with a 64.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A285 JFV 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 A285 JFV. 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.