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A9 SMD

1997 Land Rover Defender

Red Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires29 Jul 2026
Tests25 (20 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate80%

Mileage

64,283 mi
Last recorded64,283 miles
Recorded on16 Jul 2025
Typical for 1997 Land Rover Defender117,879 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationA9 SMD
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1997
ColourRed
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,495cc
View full Land Rover Defender reliability data Browse other 1997 Land Rover Defender registrations

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 5 fail
Pass 16 Jul 2025 64,283 miles

Central Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive cone (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material caliper (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive cone (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear tank outrigger corroded

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive all chassis x members etc (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 23 Jul 2024 64,253 miles

Central Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both sides cones (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material caliper (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Rear tank bracket outrigger corroded

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive all chassis x members etc (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 13 Jul 2023 64,217 miles

Central Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both sides cones (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material caliper (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive all chassis x members outriggers (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 12 Jul 2022 64,185 miles

Central Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement both sides trailing arms (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both sides cones (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material caliper (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear outrigger corroded fuel tank support

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive all chassis (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 6 Jul 2021 64,165 miles

Central Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Central Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement both sides trailing arms (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both sides cone (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material caliper (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear out rigger corroded fuel tank support

Rear Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush both sides (5.3.2 (c))

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive all chassis (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 13 Jul 2020 63,996 miles

Central Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement both sides trailing arms (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material caliper (1.1.11 (c))

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive all chassis (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Fail 13 Jul 2020 63,996 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength near trailing arm (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength near trailing arm (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt drop arm (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Central Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement both sides trailing arms (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material caliper (1.1.11 (c))

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive all chassis (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 18 Jul 2019 63,645 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material caliper (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both sides near trailing arm mount (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt drop arm (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Fail 18 Jul 2019 63,645 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material caliper (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both sides near trailing arm mount (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt drop arm (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Pass 16 Jul 2018 63,242 miles

Central Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material caliper (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both sides near trailing arms (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 17 Jul 2017 62,812 miles

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

Fail 17 Jul 2017 62,812 miles

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

Nearside Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.2.C.1h)

Pass 26 Jul 2016 62,566 miles

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

Fail 25 Jul 2016 62,565 miles

Brake pipe excessively corroded front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

Pass 23 Jul 2015 62,327 miles

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

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

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

Pass 17 Jul 2014 61,999 miles
Pass 26 Jul 2013 61,819 miles
Pass 16 Jul 2012 61,320 miles
Pass 30 Jul 2011 60,942 miles

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

Pass 23 Jul 2010 60,652 miles
Pass 17 Jul 2009 59,737 miles
Pass 28 Jul 2008 58,838 miles
Pass 19 Jul 2007 58,429 miles
Pass 27 Jul 2006 58,088 miles

Centre Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

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

Fail 27 Jul 2006 58,088 miles

Centre Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Front Headlamp aim too high when the centre of the headlamp is below 850mm from the ground (1.6.B2)

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

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

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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A9 SMD is a 1997 Land Rover Defender in Red with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80%.

Across all 1997 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.5% with a typical mileage of 117,879 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 A9 SMD, 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 29 years old, this Land Rover Defender is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of A9 SMD?

You can check the full history of A9 SMD by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was A9 SMD registered?

A9 SMD is a 1997 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 1 August 1997.

Is A9 SMD safe to buy?

The MOT history for A9 SMD shows 25 tests with a 80% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A9 SMD 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 A9 SMD. 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.