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AK03 ZWU

2003 Land Rover Defender

Silver Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires5 Feb 2027
Tests28 (20 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate71.4%

Mileage

135,379 mi
Last recorded135,379 miles
Recorded on20 Jan 2026
Typical for 2003 Land Rover Defender86,068 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Finance
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationAK03 ZWU
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year2003
ColourSilver
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 8 fail
Pass 20 Jan 2026 135,379 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

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

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Outer side wall (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Slight oil leak at transmission.

Slight oil leak between engine and gearbox.

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Rear cross member. (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 21 Jan 2025 133,118 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

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

Nearside Rear Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed Centre row (7.1.2 (b))

Offside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Parking brake lever has limited reserve travel

Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively Rear prop, rear joint. (6.1.7 (c) (i))

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Rear cross member. (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 31 Jan 2024 132,242 miles

Nearside Front Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

Offside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Front Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

Prop shaft bearing has slight play (6.1.7 (b) (i))

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

Fail 25 Jan 2024 131,237 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn trailing arm. (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn trailing arm. (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Front Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

Offside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Front Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

Prop shaft bearing has slight play (6.1.7 (b) (i))

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

Pass 20 Jan 2023 129,094 miles

Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced rear cross member (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

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

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

hand brake has excess travel

Fail 19 Jan 2023 129,094 miles

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

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

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced rear cross member (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

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

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

hand brake has excess travel

Pass 25 Jan 2022 127,938 miles

Hand brake lever has excessive travel.

Nearside Front Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

Offside Front Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

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

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Rear cross member. (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 3 Feb 2021 127,054 miles
Fail 2 Feb 2021 127,054 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))

Oil leaking excessively from engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting cross member (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Pass 3 Feb 2020 125,170 miles

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

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material across rear axle (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Prop shaft bearing has slight play uj (6.1.7 (b) (i))

Fail 29 Jan 2020 125,170 miles

Brake performance not tested (1.2.1 (g))

Central Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Central Brake pipe leaking on a hydraulic braking system (1.1.11 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material across rear axle (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Prop shaft bearing has slight play uj (6.1.7 (b) (i))

Pass 30 Jan 2019 122,751 miles

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

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

Pass 5 Feb 2018 118,863 miles
Pass 6 Feb 2017 116,750 miles
Pass 26 May 2015 113,976 miles

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

both rear tyres are heavily perrished but not to chords.

rear brake pipe corroded.

wipers smear screen but not seriously effecting the drivers view to the road.

Pass 19 May 2014 108,610 miles

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

Nail in offside rear tyre

Oil leak

both rear tyres cracked

Pass 23 May 2013 103,825 miles
Fail 22 May 2013 103,818 miles

Brake performance not tested (3.7.A.1)

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Rear Lower Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1b)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1a)

Pass 21 May 2012 95,769 miles

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

Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Offside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

Fail 21 May 2012 95,766 miles

Offside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Offside Rear Lower Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

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

Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Offside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

Pass 9 May 2011 85,349 miles

both front swivel hubs leaking

parking brake lever close to max travel

Fail 9 May 2011 85,346 miles

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

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

Offside Rear brake disc contaminated by oil (3.5.1h)

both front swivel hubs leaking

parking brake lever close to max travel

Pass 17 May 2010 75,879 miles

Oil leak to front of engine

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

Pass 18 May 2009 65,233 miles

Both sphere seals damp

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

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

Some wear to nsf sphere bearings

Some wear to rear shock top bushes

Pass 9 May 2008 55,330 miles
Fail 9 May 2008 55,330 miles

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

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

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

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

engine oil leak

play on both rear shock bushes

Pass 14 May 2007 44,919 miles
Pass 15 May 2006 34,788 miles

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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AK03 ZWU is a 2003 Land Rover Defender in Silver with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71.4%.

Across all 2003 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.7% with a typical mileage of 86,068 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 AK03 ZWU, 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 23 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 AK03 ZWU?

You can check the full history of AK03 ZWU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was AK03 ZWU registered?

AK03 ZWU is a 2003 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 22 May 2003.

Is AK03 ZWU safe to buy?

The MOT history for AK03 ZWU shows 28 tests with a 71.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does AK03 ZWU 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 AK03 ZWU. 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.