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A503 SFE

1983 Land Rover Defender

Blue Petrol 3528cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires9 Apr 2027
Tests14 (11 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate78.6%

Mileage

127,726 mi
Last recorded127,726 miles
Recorded on10 Apr 2026
Typical for 1983 Land Rover Defender109,986 mi

Above average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationA503 SFE
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1983
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,528cc

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 3 fail
Pass 10 Apr 2026 127,726 miles
Pass 19 Nov 2024 127,640 miles
Pass 5 Dec 2023 126,618 miles
Fail 5 Dec 2023 126,618 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Pass 17 Nov 2022 125,307 miles
Pass 6 Dec 2021 124,511 miles
Fail 6 Dec 2021 124,511 miles

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

Offside Headlamp aim too far to the right (4.1.2 (a))

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

Fail 29 Oct 2021 124,457 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

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

Offside Headlamp aim too far to the right (4.1.2 (a))

Rear Exhaust silencer insecure (8.1.1 (b) (i))

Rear Exhaust system insecure (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 15 Sep 2020 122,831 miles

Power steering pump has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 30 Sep 2019 121,406 miles

Nearside Front hub seal leaking

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Steering linkage ball joint has slight play at steering box (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Steering box leaking oil (2.1.1 (e) (i))

hazards not working

Pass 27 Sep 2018 120,048 miles
Pass 11 Oct 2017 119,810 miles

Oil leak ()

Pass 19 Sep 2016 117,608 miles

Oil leak ()

Pass 3 Sep 2015 114,989 miles

engine fitted at time of test bears the no. 24G00847A

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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A503 SFE is a 1983 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 3,528cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 14 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 78.6%.

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 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 A503 SFE, 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 A503 SFE?

You can check the full history of A503 SFE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was A503 SFE registered?

A503 SFE is a 1983 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 24 November 1983.

Is A503 SFE safe to buy?

The MOT history for A503 SFE shows 14 tests with a 78.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A503 SFE 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 A503 SFE. 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.