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A966 TFL

1984 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires16 Oct 2026
Tests29 (20 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate69%

Mileage

175,019 mi
Last recorded175,019 miles
Recorded on17 Oct 2025
Typical for 1984 Land Rover Defender119,280 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationA966 TFL
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1984
ColourBlue
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

20 pass 9 fail
Pass 17 Oct 2025 175,019 miles

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

Nearside Front Suspension rod pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement panard rod (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Pass 14 Oct 2024 172,925 miles

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

Fail 14 Oct 2024 172,925 miles

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

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

Rear fog lamp tell-tale not working (4.9.1 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 13 Oct 2023 171,837 miles

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

Pass 10 Oct 2022 170,751 miles

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

Pass 12 Oct 2021 169,826 miles

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

Pass 13 Oct 2020 168,699 miles

Nearside Drag link end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

Nearside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Offside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Pass 7 Oct 2019 167,724 miles

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

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Pass 3 Oct 2018 166,176 miles

Nearside Drag link end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (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 Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside and nearside front hubs have a slight leak

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

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

Park brake only met the 16% minimum

Parking brake has minimum reserve travel

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Pass 28 Sep 2017 164,385 miles

Nearside Drag link end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

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

Oil leak ()

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Parking brake only just met the minimum 16%

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

Pass 11 Oct 2016 163,347 miles

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

Oil leak ()

Pass 13 Oct 2015 161,785 miles

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

Nearside Front bump stop missing

diff lock light lit on dash

oil level low

rear shock absorbers top mountains washers missing.

Fail 8 Oct 2015 161,735 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

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

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

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

Offside Front Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

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

rear brake binding handbrake dragging (3.7.B.1)

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

Nearside Front bump stop missing

diff lock light lit on dash

oil level low

rear shock absorbers top mountains washers missing.

wiring fouling exhaust at rear and wire on turbo.

Pass 3 Oct 2014 159,800 miles

Both front wheel bearing would benifit from adjustment

Exhaust front pipe corroded and blowing

Hand brake would benifit from adjustment

Near side front bump stop missing

Power steering belt would benifit from adjustment

Power steering pump slightly leaking

Slight play in near side track rod end

Washers missing from top of rear shockers

Pass 14 Oct 2013 157,926 miles

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

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

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

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Oil leak

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage (2.3.3b)

nearside door hinges worn

nearside front door frame holed and corroded

Fail 10 Oct 2013 157,915 miles

Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

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

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

Speedometer clearly inoperative (6.7.2)

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Oil leak

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage (2.3.3b)

nearside door hinges worn

nearside front door frame holed and corroded

Pass 12 Oct 2012 157,915 miles

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

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

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

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

Oil leak

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

nearside tow bar lower brace missing

Pass 3 Oct 2011 157,915 miles
Fail 3 Oct 2011 157,915 miles

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

Offside Rear Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Oil leak

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage (2.3.3b)

centre\rear exhaust flange bolt missing,rear section loose and fouling chassis

Pass 13 Oct 2010 155,556 miles

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

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

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

alternator belt heavily cracked and would bnefit from adjustment

clutch slave cylinder hose deteriorated

Fail 13 Oct 2010 155,556 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe inadequately clipped (3.6.B.1)

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

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe inadequately clipped (3.6.B.1)

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

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

alternator belt heavily cracked and would bnefit from adjustment

clutch slave cylinder hose deteriorated

Pass 20 Jul 2009 147,841 miles
Fail 18 Jul 2009 147,840 miles

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

Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

front brakes slightly out of ballance

off side door do's not always close properly

rear prop shaft bolts loose

slight leak from power steering pump

Pass 19 May 2008 143,993 miles

Nearside Inner Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

possible play in steering droparm\drag end ball joint

Fail 16 May 2008 143,973 miles

Nearside Rear Coil spring not correctly located (2.4.C.2)

Offside Front Coil spring not correctly located (2.4.C.2)

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

Nearside Inner Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

possible play in steering droparm\drag end ball joint

Pass 7 Jun 2007 134,245 miles

engine bay wiring harness poorly routed and insecure

tow bar wiring and socket insecure

Fail 23 May 2007 134,102 miles

Brake pipe inadequately clipped (3.6.B.1)

Brake pipe inadequately clipped (3.6.B.1)

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

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

Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

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

engine bay wiring harness poorly routed and insecure

nearside door difficult to open from inside

tow bar wiring socket insecure

Pass 10 Jun 2006 126,254 miles
Fail 4 May 2006 126,243 miles

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

Emissions not tested (7.0)

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Fuel tank leaking (7.2.3)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

Nearside Front Direction indicator adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.4.A.2h)

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

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

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

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

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Nearside Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering (6.1.A.1)

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated (8.2.2)

Offside Front Radius arm insecure (2.4.G.1)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too high (hotspot upper edge above the horizontal 0% line) (1.6.D1)

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

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

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering (6.1.A.1)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated (8.2.2)

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

Power steering inoperative (2.3.3a)

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

chassis and underbody showing signs of corrosion

oil warning light inoperative

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

A966 TFL is a 1984 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 69%.

Across all 1984 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.4% with a typical mileage of 119,280 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 A966 TFL, 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 42 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 A966 TFL?

You can check the full history of A966 TFL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was A966 TFL registered?

A966 TFL is a 1984 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 15 June 1984.

Is A966 TFL safe to buy?

The MOT history for A966 TFL shows 29 tests with a 69% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A966 TFL 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 A966 TFL. 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.