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ACW 23A

1985 Land Rover Defender

Black Petrol 2286cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires16 Dec 2026
Tests24 (14 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate58.3%

Mileage

110,156 mi
Last recorded110,156 miles
Recorded on17 Dec 2025
Typical for 1985 Land Rover Defender122,807 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationACW 23A
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1985
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,286cc

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

14 pass 10 fail
Pass 17 Dec 2025 110,156 miles

Driver's door catch deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed bolt missing from striker (6.2.3 (c) (i))

Nearside Drag link end ball joint has slight play vertical lift (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

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

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

Offside Drag link end ball joint has slight play vertical lift (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Fail 3 Dec 2025 110,156 miles

Front Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements (0.1 (d))

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

Rear Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements (0.1 (d))

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

Driver's door catch deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed bolt missing from striker (6.2.3 (c) (i))

Nearside Drag link end ball joint has slight play vertical lift (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

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

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

Offside Drag link end ball joint has slight play vertical lift (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Pass 13 Nov 2024 105,302 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material all brake pipes coated (1.1.11 (c))

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

Nearside Front Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn lower. stub pin (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Parking brake lever defective but can be satisfactorily operated in need of adjustment, only just sufficient for mot (1.1.6 (d))

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

Fail 13 Nov 2024 105,296 miles

Front Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements (0.1 (d))

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

Rear Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements (0.1 (d))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material all brake pipes coated (1.1.11 (c))

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

Nearside Front Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn lower. stub pin (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Parking brake lever defective but can be satisfactorily operated in need of adjustment, only just sufficient for mot (1.1.6 (d))

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

Pass 13 Nov 2023 101,576 miles

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

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

rear cross member corroded

Pass 2 Nov 2022 96,117 miles
Fail 1 Nov 2022 96,107 miles

Offside Rear Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 18 Nov 2021 93,523 miles
Pass 22 Dec 2020 89,729 miles
Pass 11 May 2018 89,428 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 29 Jul 2016 88,886 miles

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

Nearside Obligatory mirror damaged, but not seriously affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

dip stick missing

speedo lights not working

Fail 21 Jul 2016 88,751 miles

Brake fluid warning lamp inoperative (3.6.G.2)

Centre Rear Torque/reaction arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt rear axle ball joint dust cover split (2.4.G.2)

Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine (7.4.B.3b)

Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour of any colour (7.4.B.4)

Nearside Front Axle swivel joint has excessive play in a swivel pin (2.5.A.3b)

Nearside Front Ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt rear track rod end (2.2.C.1c)

Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Nearside Front brake disc contaminated by oil (3.5.1h)

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

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

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

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

Nearside Obligatory mirror damaged, but not seriously affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

dip beam tell tell not working

dip stick missing

speedo lights not working

Pass 18 Sep 2015 85,716 miles
Fail 18 Sep 2015 85,716 miles

Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Pass 16 Aug 2014 78,934 miles

o/s/f hub damp

Fail 16 Aug 2014 78,924 miles

Fuel system component leaking (7.2.3)

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Power steering pump leaking from a failed seal (2.3.3b)

o/s/f hub damp

Pass 9 Aug 2013 77,255 miles
Fail 27 Jul 2013 77,244 miles

Front registration plate missing (6.3.1a)

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Power steering pump leaking from a failed joint (2.3.3b)

Pass 24 Nov 2011 73,869 miles
Pass 20 Dec 2010 70,326 miles
Fail 17 Oct 2007 70,322 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Nearside Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Rear Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Nearside Upper Axle swivel joint has excessive movement between a swivel joint and its housing (2.5.A.1b)

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

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

Offside Front Upper Axle swivel joint has excessive movement between a swivel joint and its housing (2.5.A.1b)

Offside Rear Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

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

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

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

Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) DANGEROUS

power steering system removed and replaced with manuel

Fail 28 Sep 2006 70,317 miles

Fuel cap/sealing device sealing washer missing (7.2.4c)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper not operating over a large enough area to give an adequate view (8.2.1c)

Offside Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated (8.2.2)

Offside Front Windscreen wiper not operating over a large enough area to give an adequate view (8.2.1c)

Rear Body or chassis is damaged, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone 'A' (8.3.1e)

Pass 10 Aug 2005 69,769 miles
Fail 4 Aug 2005 69,769 miles

Emissions not tested (7.0)

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

Nearside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

REAR OF CHASSIS CORRODED

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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ACW 23A is a 1985 Land Rover Defender in Black with a 2,286cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 58.3%.

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 ACW 23A, 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 ACW 23A?

You can check the full history of ACW 23A by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was ACW 23A registered?

ACW 23A is a 1985 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 31 December 1985.

Is ACW 23A safe to buy?

The MOT history for ACW 23A shows 24 tests with a 58.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does ACW 23A 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 ACW 23A. 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.