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A8 BYG

1985 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires6 Feb 2027
Tests24 (16 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

213,504 mi
Last recorded213,504 miles
Recorded on7 Feb 2026
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

RegistrationA8 BYG
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

16 pass 8 fail
Pass 7 Feb 2026 213,504 miles

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

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

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

Pass 20 Dec 2024 213,346 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 4 Dec 2023 209,318 miles

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

Nearside Front swivel hub oil seal slight leak

Steering box has seepage (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Fail 2 Dec 2023 209,314 miles

Front Windscreen washer jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen (3.5 (a))

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

Nearside Front swivel hub oil seal slight leak

Steering box has seepage (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Pass 23 Dec 2022 204,628 miles

Offside Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

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

Pass 7 Jul 2021 203,169 miles

Nearside Front Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

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

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

Pass 11 Jul 2020 197,636 miles
Pass 9 Jul 2019 193,208 miles

Nearside Front Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage at reservoir (2.1.5 (a))

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

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

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

Pass 27 Jun 2018 186,950 miles

Nearside Front Fluid leak, but not excessive at power steering fluid reservoir (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Fail 27 Jun 2018 186,947 miles

Offside Front Suspension component insecure and impairing directional stability swivel joint (5.3.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Fluid leak, but not excessive at power steering fluid reservoir (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Pass 20 Jul 2017 179,618 miles
Pass 3 Feb 2016 192,954 miles
Pass 18 Mar 2015 190,331 miles
Pass 19 Sep 2013 190,250 miles
Fail 11 Sep 2013 190,250 miles

Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement (7.2.4b)

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

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

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

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

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

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Fail 8 Aug 2013 190,249 miles

Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement (7.2.4b)

Hazard warning lamps inoperative (1.4.B.1b)

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

Indicator tell tale missing (1.4.A.2a)

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

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

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

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

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

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Offside Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Windscreen washer control missing (8.2.1a)

Pass 15 May 2010 188,764 miles

front brake getting low

slight dampnes around o/s/r brake back plate but no visual leak

slight play in o/s/f hub assembly

Fail 24 Apr 2010 188,705 miles

Front passenger door does not latch securely closed (6.2.B.1a)

Nearside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

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

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)

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

Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Offside Front Drag link end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

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

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

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

Offside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)

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

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

Power steering ram(s) leaking from a failed component (2.3.3b)

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

Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering box fitted) (2.2.A.1a)

Pass 25 Apr 2009 185,919 miles

Rear Shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect (2.7.5)

Fail 25 Apr 2009 185,919 miles

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

Rear Shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect (2.7.5)

Fail 10 Feb 2009 185,918 miles

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

Direction indicators not working (1.4.A.2c)

Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition off (1.4.B.1f)

Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition on (1.4.B.1f)

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Offside Front Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Pass 14 Aug 2007 177,735 miles
Fail 9 Aug 2007 177,735 miles

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

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

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

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

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

Pass 19 Jan 2006 167,348 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.

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A8 BYG is a 1985 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

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 A8 BYG, 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 A8 BYG?

You can check the full history of A8 BYG by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was A8 BYG registered?

A8 BYG is a 1985 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 31 December 1985.

Is A8 BYG safe to buy?

The MOT history for A8 BYG shows 24 tests with a 66.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A8 BYG 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 A8 BYG. 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.