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A8 VLR

1986 Land Rover Defender

Grey Petrol 3528cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires17 Jul 2026
Tests23 (16 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate69.6%

Mileage

167,391 mi
Last recorded167,391 miles
Recorded on18 Jul 2025
Typical for 1986 Land Rover Defender124,952 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationA8 VLR
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1986
ColourGrey
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

16 pass 7 fail
Pass 18 Jul 2025 167,391 miles

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

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

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

Fail 18 Jul 2025 167,391 miles

Offside Drag link end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

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

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

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

Pass 30 May 2022 167,375 miles

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

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

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

Pass 31 Mar 2021 167,158 miles

Cab or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

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

drop arm ball joint gaiter damaged

Fail 24 Mar 2021 167,158 miles

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Headlamp aim not tested (4.1.2 (b))

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Headlamp aim not tested (4.1.2 (b))

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

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

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Cab or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

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

drop arm ball joint gaiter damaged

Pass 21 Jun 2019 166,887 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

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

Nearside Front brake pipe unions corroded

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

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

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

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

Offside Front brake pipe unions corroded

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

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

Rear shock absorbers outer casing corroded

Pass 8 Jun 2018 166,614 miles

Nearside Front brake ferrules corroded

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

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

Offside Front brake ferrules corroded

front to rear brake pipes coated in wax

rear cross member corroded

Pass 26 Jun 2017 165,961 miles

All four tyres perished

Brake pipes coated in wax

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases Nearside manifold to down pipe (7.1.2)

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

Rear chassis cross member slightly corroded

Fail 26 Jun 2017 165,961 miles

All four tyres perished

Brake pipes coated in wax

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases Nearside manifold to down pipe (7.1.2)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high and too far to the right. (1.8)

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

Offside Headlamp aim too high and too far to the right. (1.8)

Rear chassis cross member slightly corroded

Pass 24 Jun 2016 165,520 miles

All four tyres perished and cracking

Both rear outer seat belts slow to retract

Front to rear brake pipes coated in wax

Nearside Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases Between manifold and down pipe (7.1.2)

Nearside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Nearside rear tyre has splits to tyre but no visible ply or chords

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

Rear chassis cross member slightly corroded

Pass 25 Jun 2015 165,150 miles

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

all 4 tyres perished, nearside rear perished with cuts but not deep enough to reach ply or chords

both front brake pipes onto calipers slightly corroded

both rear outer seat belts slow to retract

front to rear brake pipe slightly corroded

nearside drag link ball joint dust cover perished and cracking

nearside front and offside front suspension arm bushes split and slightly worn

nearside front brake hose slightly perished

slight damage to drivers seat belt

Pass 27 Jun 2014 164,730 miles
Fail 30 May 2013 163,699 miles

Nearside Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

slight oil leak from nearside swivel housing seal

small hole in offside front outrigger

Pass 30 May 2013 163,699 miles

Nearside Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

slight oil leak from nearside swivel housing seal

small hole in offside front outrigger

Pass 27 Jun 2012 163,280 miles
Pass 17 Aug 2011 163,084 miles

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

coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 13 May 2010 162,774 miles
Pass 3 Feb 2009 162,365 miles
Fail 3 Feb 2009 162,364 miles

Nearside Front Radius arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

rear seatbelts slow to retract

Pass 25 Jan 2008 162,047 miles

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Rear position lamp(s) slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

Fail 25 Jan 2008 162,047 miles

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

Offside Rear fog lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.3.2f)

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Rear position lamp(s) slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

Pass 1 Feb 2007 161,588 miles
Fail 30 Jan 2007 161,578 miles

An item not tested (Manual)

Nearside Front Radius arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear passenger seat cannot be secured in the upright position. (6.2.3)

Offside Front Radius arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear passenger seat cannot be secured in the upright position. (6.2.3)

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

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

Oil leak

slight interaction between rear indicators and side lights

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 VLR is a 1986 Land Rover Defender in Grey with a 3,528cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 69.6%.

Across all 1986 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 68.7% with a typical mileage of 124,952 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 A8 VLR, 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 40 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 VLR?

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

What year was A8 VLR registered?

A8 VLR is a 1986 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 15 May 1986.

Is A8 VLR safe to buy?

The MOT history for A8 VLR shows 23 tests with a 69.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A8 VLR 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 VLR. 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.