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AO03 AKU

2003 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires24 Sep 2026
Tests32 (20 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate62.5%

Mileage

185,607 mi
Last recorded185,607 miles
Recorded on25 Sep 2025
Typical for 2003 Land Rover Defender86,068 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationAO03 AKU
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year2003
ColourGreen
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 12 fail
Pass 25 Sep 2025 185,607 miles

Front Seat belt buckle slightly damaged Both sides (7.1.2 (d))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Rear Wheel bearing has slight play both sides (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Fail 24 Sep 2025 185,059 miles

Brake servo defective or ineffective (1.1.10 (a) (i))

Fuel system component leaking Filter (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Rear Vehicle structure excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting Bumper (6.1.6 (i) (i))

Front Seat belt buckle slightly damaged Both sides (7.1.2 (d))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Rear Wheel bearing has slight play both sides (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 2 Sep 2024 176,167 miles

Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour but not likely to obscure the vision of other road users (8.2.2.2 (c))

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

Pass 11 Aug 2023 168,282 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Rear Integral body structure is deformed but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced tailgate (6.1.1 (a) (i))

Fail 8 Aug 2023 168,275 miles

Brake pipe excessively corroded front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

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

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

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

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

Pass 5 Aug 2022 163,302 miles
Pass 27 Jul 2021 154,249 miles

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

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

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

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

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

Offside Front Wheel hub spigot mounting slightly worn slight play (5.2.1 (b) (i))

Fail 26 Jul 2021 154,246 miles

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

Nearside Front Windscreen washer jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen (3.5 (a))

Nearside Rear Body mounting fixings insecure wheel arch (6.2.2 (c) (i))

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

Central Front Steering component modified such that the steering is adversely affected steering shocker lower bush missing (2.1.3 (f) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

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

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

Offside Front Wheel hub spigot mounting slightly worn slight play (5.2.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front repeater lamp missing

Pass 24 Jul 2020 142,947 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Offside front to rear brake pipe corroded at rear (1.1.11 (c))

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

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread Damaged (0.1 (b))

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

Offside Front Hub seal leaking slightly

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

both front wiperblades splitting

Fail 23 Jul 2020 142,941 miles

Nearside Rear Lower Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Nearside Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Offside Rear Lower Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

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

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Offside front to rear brake pipe corroded at rear (1.1.11 (c))

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

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread Damaged (0.1 (b))

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

Offside Front Hub seal leaking slightly

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

Offside Side repeater insecure (4.4.1 (c) (i))

Pass 12 Jun 2019 134,449 miles

high travel to handbrake

Pass 18 Jun 2018 123,353 miles

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

Pass 16 Jun 2017 110,809 miles

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

Pass 17 May 2016 105,007 miles
Fail 5 May 2016 105,007 miles

Brake servo leaking (3.6.C.1c)

Nearside Radius arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Offside Radius arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Slight play in the rear prop rear u.j

Pass 14 May 2015 98,748 miles

Coolant leak on the cylinder head core plug

Oil leaks

Fail 12 May 2015 98,741 miles

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

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

Coolant leak on the cylinder head core plug

Front and rear brake pads worn low

Nearside front drive cap/c.v joint end worn allowing transmision slack

Oil leaks

Rear prop front u.j worn

Pass 8 May 2014 92,264 miles
Pass 2 May 2013 85,438 miles

Offside front wheel bearing has slight play

Radius arm bush's have slight play

Slight play in the steering damper bush

Fail 26 Apr 2013 85,438 miles

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

Nearside Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

rear brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

rear brakes release unevenly (3.7.B.4)

Front brake pads worn

Offside front wheel bearing has slight play

Radius arm bush's have slight play

Slight play in the rear prop rear u.j

Slight play in the steering damper bush

Pass 10 May 2012 79,977 miles

Rear shock absorber lower bush's have some movement

Slight play in the steering damper bush

Wipers do not park in correct place

Fail 8 May 2012 79,977 miles

Brake servo damaged and function impaired (3.6.A.2c)

Fuel system component leaking (7.2.3)

Nearside Drag link end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Offside Drag link end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Play in both rear propshaft u.j's

Rear inner brake pads low

Rear shock absorber lower bush's have some movement

Slight play in nearside fornt wheel bearing

Slight play in the steering damper bush

Wipers do not park in correct place

Pass 3 May 2011 73,341 miles
Fail 3 May 2011 73,341 miles

Fuel system component leaking (7.2.3)

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

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

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

Pass 30 Apr 2010 66,092 miles
Fail 23 Apr 2010 66,092 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Steering arm deformed and unserviceable (2.2.C.1d)

Pass 12 May 2009 59,624 miles
Fail 12 May 2009 59,624 miles

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

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

Pass 12 May 2008 53,363 miles
Fail 12 May 2008 53,363 miles

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

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)

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b) DANGEROUS

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

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

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

Pass 15 May 2007 46,829 miles
Pass 23 Mar 2006 39,118 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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AO03 AKU is a 2003 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 32 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 62.5%.

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 AO03 AKU, 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 AO03 AKU?

You can check the full history of AO03 AKU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was AO03 AKU registered?

AO03 AKU is a 2003 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 3 March 2003.

Is AO03 AKU safe to buy?

The MOT history for AO03 AKU shows 32 tests with a 62.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does AO03 AKU 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 AO03 AKU. 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.