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AU53 YJF

2003 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires9 Feb 2027
Tests33 (20 pass, 13 fail)
Pass rate60.6%

Mileage

84,412 mi
Last recorded84,412 miles
Recorded on23 Jan 2026
Typical for 2003 Land Rover Defender86,068 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationAU53 YJF
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 13 fail
Pass 23 Jan 2026 84,412 miles

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

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

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

Pass 6 Feb 2025 83,501 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension rod pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension rod pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 25 Jan 2024 82,975 miles
Fail 24 Jan 2024 82,975 miles

Front Registration plate inscription illegible (0.1 (b))

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

Nearside Rear All direction indicators not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 10 Feb 2023 82,677 miles
Fail 30 Jan 2023 82,677 miles

Nearside Front Stub axle has excessive vertical movement between stub axle and axle beam (5.1.2 (c) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has negligible damping effect (5.3.2 (d))

Nearside Rear Suspension rod pin or bush excessively worn front bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has negligible damping effect (5.3.2 (d))

Offside Rear Suspension rod pin or bush excessively worn front bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Shock absorbers likely to become detached (5.3.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 1 Feb 2022 81,651 miles

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

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

Fail 27 Jan 2022 81,651 miles

Front Tyre(s) with different structures are fitted across the same axle (5.2.3 (c))

Nearside Rear Body panel insecure (6.2.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Steering box sector shaft splines excessively worn (2.1.1 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Steering box has excessive movement between sector shaft and the drop arm (2.1.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Pass 27 Jan 2021 80,780 miles

slight oil leak

Fail 27 Jan 2021 80,780 miles

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

Offside Front Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt drop arm (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Steering component deformed to the extent that steering is affected steering damper bush (2.1.3 (c) (ii)) DANGEROUS

slight oil leak

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

Pass 23 Jan 2020 79,932 miles

Nearside Front slight play on stub pin bearings

Fail 22 Jan 2020 79,932 miles

Central Rear Brake lever has restricted free movement (1.1.15 (e))

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

Offside Front Steering box has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering box fitted) drop arm loose (2.3 (a) (i))

Offside Front Steering box has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering box fitted) steering damper bush (2.3 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Fuel hose leaking filler pipe (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Front slight play on stub pin bearings

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

Pass 16 Jan 2019 77,872 miles
Pass 23 Jan 2018 76,474 miles

Oil leak from engine ()

Fail 19 Jan 2018 76,474 miles

Brake servo vacuum pipe excessively chafed (3.6.C.1b)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe inadequately clipped (3.6.B.1)

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour white light (1.4.A.2f)

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

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

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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

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

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

Oil leak from engine ()

Rear Propshaft universal joint worn significantly worn, early failure likely ()

Spare tyre defective flat ()

clutch pedal rubber missing

Pass 31 Jan 2017 75,164 miles
Fail 31 Jan 2017 75,164 miles

Offside Rear Direction indicators not working (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Upper Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 30 Jan 2016 73,564 miles
Fail 27 Jan 2016 73,564 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Steering arm has relative movement at its fixings damper bush (2.2.B.1h)

Fail 21 Jan 2015 69,923 miles

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 21 Jan 2015 69,923 miles
Pass 29 Jan 2014 68,980 miles

Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

O/S/F hub oil seal has slight dampness

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 30 Jan 2013 67,747 miles
Fail 28 Jan 2013 67,747 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber detached (2.7.2b)

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

Offside Rear Trailing arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Trailing arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 27 Jan 2012 60,393 miles
Fail 25 Jan 2012 60,393 miles

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

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

Nearside Front wheel bearing has excessive play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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

Steering damper damaged and unserviceable (2.2.C.1d)

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Pass 28 Jan 2011 53,199 miles
Fail 27 Jan 2011 53,199 miles

Fuel system component leaking (7.2.3)

Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Rear fog lamp does not emit a steady red light (1.3.2e)

Nearside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Pass 26 Jan 2010 46,593 miles
Fail 26 Jan 2010 46,593 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Tie bar/rod rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 23 Jan 2009 39,251 miles
Pass 29 Jan 2008 31,618 miles

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

Pass 30 Jan 2007 23,860 miles

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

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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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AU53 YJF is a 2003 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 33 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60.6%.

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 AU53 YJF, 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 AU53 YJF?

You can check the full history of AU53 YJF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was AU53 YJF registered?

AU53 YJF is a 2003 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 1 September 2003.

Is AU53 YJF safe to buy?

The MOT history for AU53 YJF shows 33 tests with a 60.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does AU53 YJF 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 AU53 YJF. 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.