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AF53 VBJ

2003 Land Rover Discovery

Gold Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires7 Sep 2026
Tests34 (20 pass, 14 fail)
Pass rate58.8%

Mileage

250,493 mi
Last recorded250,493 miles
Recorded on28 Aug 2025
Typical for 2003 Land Rover Discovery100,620 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationAF53 VBJ
MakeLand Rover
ModelDiscovery
Year2003
ColourGold
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 14 fail
Pass 28 Aug 2025 250,493 miles
Pass 12 Aug 2024 245,617 miles

Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

oil leak(s)

Pass 15 Aug 2023 240,339 miles

Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated both nearside and offside (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

corrosion

Fail 15 Aug 2023 240,339 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

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

Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated both nearside and offside (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

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

corrosion

Pass 19 Aug 2022 235,397 miles

Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated both nearside and offside (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component (2.1.5 (a))

centre stop lamp inoperative

nearside rear tyre deteriorated

slight oil leak

Pass 31 Aug 2021 203,457 miles

Parking brake lever defective but can be satisfactorily operated (1.1.6 (d))

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

Fail 31 Aug 2021 230,457 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

Electronic stability control warning lamp indicates a fault (7.12 (e))

Parking brake lever defective but can be satisfactorily operated (1.1.6 (d))

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

Pass 8 Sep 2020 223,820 miles

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

Fail 7 Sep 2020 223,819 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

Electronic stability control warning lamp indicates a fault (7.12 (e))

Exhaust emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit (8.2.2.2 (a))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Driver's seat insecure (6.2.5 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour likely to obscure the vision of other road users (8.2.2.2 (c)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Pass 4 Sep 2019 219,268 miles
Fail 3 Sep 2019 219,266 miles

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Shock mounting (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Shock mounting (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 3 Sep 2018 213,427 miles
Fail 30 Aug 2018 213,427 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Towbar excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.1.6 (i) (i))

Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 25 Aug 2017 201,226 miles

Nearside Rear level sensor broken

Oil leak ()

Fail 23 Aug 2017 201,208 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Rear fog lamp emits a light other than red (1.3.2e)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not illuminating the registration plate (1.1.C.1e)

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

Steering box has a significant oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

Oil leak ()

Nearside Rear level sensor broken

Pass 31 Aug 2016 188,523 miles

Coolant leak ()

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 2mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 2mm (4.1.E.1)

Fail 31 Aug 2016 188,522 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid all (8.2.3)

Coolant leak ()

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 2mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 2mm (4.1.E.1)

Pass 19 Aug 2015 176,216 miles
Pass 2 Sep 2014 167,222 miles
Pass 2 Sep 2013 154,793 miles

n/s and o/s rear brake pipes

Fail 27 Aug 2013 154,783 miles

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

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) leaking from a joint (2.3.3b)

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

n/s and o/s rear brake pipes

Pass 29 Aug 2012 144,783 miles

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

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

Fail 21 Aug 2012 144,738 miles

Windscreen has damage to the swept area in excess of a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

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

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

Pass 31 Aug 2011 129,363 miles
Fail 26 Aug 2011 129,154 miles

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

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

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

Pass 1 Sep 2010 117,327 miles

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Fail 1 Sep 2010 117,311 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 26 Aug 2009 105,489 miles

Offside Rear Upper Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

n/s and o/s rear tyres worn inner edge

Fail 22 Aug 2009 104,951 miles

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

Offside Rear Upper Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

n/s and o/s rear tyres worn inner edge

Pass 13 Aug 2008 77,629 miles
Fail 13 Aug 2008 77,629 miles

Centre Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Fail 16 Aug 2007 64,355 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 16 Aug 2007 64,355 miles
Pass 30 Aug 2006 50,906 miles

How Reliable is the Land Rover Discovery?

Based on 4,388,972 MOT tests across 325,470 vehicles.

72.7%
Pass Rate
6,904
Miles/Year
36
Year Lifespan
325,470
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Brake pipe excessively corroded 153,632
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 141,712
Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 136,366
position lamp(s) not working 91,214
Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush 88,089
Full Land Rover Discovery reliability report

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AF53 VBJ is a 2003 Land Rover Discovery in Gold with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 34 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 58.8%.

Across all 2003 Land Rover Discovery models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.2% with a typical mileage of 100,620 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 Discovery fails its MOT is brake pipe excessively corroded, accounting for 153,632 recorded failures. If you're considering buying AF53 VBJ, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Land Rover Discovery typically stays on UK roads for around 36 years. At 23 years old, this Land Rover Discovery is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of AF53 VBJ?

You can check the full history of AF53 VBJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was AF53 VBJ registered?

AF53 VBJ is a 2003 Land Rover Discovery, first registered on 1 September 2003.

Is AF53 VBJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for AF53 VBJ shows 34 tests with a 58.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does AF53 VBJ 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 AF53 VBJ. 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.