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AU53 ZYF

2003 Land Rover Defender

Grey Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires18 Jan 2027
Tests29 (18 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate62.1%

Mileage

205,640 mi
Last recorded205,640 miles
Recorded on19 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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Vehicle Details

RegistrationAU53 ZYF
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year2003
ColourGrey
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

18 pass 11 fail
Pass 19 Jan 2026 205,640 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material o/s rear, front to rear pipes x2 (1.1.11 (c))

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Items removed from driver's view prior to test ()

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

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

Nearside Rear reflector defective or damaged by up to 50% of the reflecting surface (4.8.1 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Rear Direction indicator lens defective which has no effect on emitted light (4.4.1 (b) (i))

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

Fail 13 Jan 2026 205,480 miles

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

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

Offside Rear reflector defective or damaged by more than 50% of the reflecting surface (4.8.1 (a) (ii))

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Speedometer cannot be illuminated (7.8 (c) (ii))

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

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material o/s rear, front to rear pipes x2 (1.1.11 (c))

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Items removed from driver's view prior to test ()

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

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

Nearside Rear reflector defective or damaged by up to 50% of the reflecting surface (4.8.1 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Rear Direction indicator lens defective which has no effect on emitted light (4.4.1 (b) (i))

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

Pass 21 Nov 2024 198,805 miles

oil leak engine

oil leak gearbox

rear cross member corroded

rear discs corroded

underside of vehicle corroded

Fail 19 Nov 2024 198,781 miles

Central Driver's view of the road through the swept area of the windscreen significantly affected by an obstruction (3.1 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Stop lamp(s) adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.3.3 (b))

Rear Registration plate inscription illegible (0.1 (b))

Rear fog lamp tell-tale not working (4.9.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

oil leak engine

oil leak gearbox

rear cross member corroded

rear discs corroded

underside of vehicle corroded

Pass 7 Aug 2023 194,365 miles

oil leak from gearbox

oil leak front axle

rear trailing arm bushes splitting

underside of vehicle corroded

Fail 7 Aug 2023 194,365 miles

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

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

oil leak from gearbox

oil leak front axle

rear trailing arm bushes splitting

underside of vehicle corroded

Pass 19 Jul 2022 184,805 miles

oil leak engine

oil leak front diff

oil leak gearbox

underside of vehicle corroded

Fail 19 Jul 2022 184,805 miles

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

oil leak engine

oil leak front diff

oil leak gearbox

underside of vehicle corroded

Pass 9 Jul 2021 181,524 miles

offside front tyre on 2mm

oil leak engine

oil leak transfer box

Fail 24 Jun 2021 181,304 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Front Tyre(s) with different aspect ratios are fitted on the same axle. (5.2.3 (b))

Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

offside front tyre on 2mm

oil leak engine

oil leak transfer box

Pass 6 Jun 2020 169,736 miles

offside front tyre on 2mm

oil leak engine

oil leak gearbox

Fail 4 Jun 2020 169,736 miles

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

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

offside front tyre on 2mm

oil leak engine

oil leak gearbox

Pass 27 Mar 2019 162,640 miles

NEARSIDE FRONT HEADLAMP DAMAGED

Fail 19 Mar 2019 162,569 miles

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

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Nearside Rear Fluid leaking continuously posing a serious risk to road safety OIL ALL OVER NEARSIDE REAR BRAKE DISC ON INNER SIDE (8.4.1 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

NEARSIDE FRONT HEADLAMP DAMAGED

Pass 15 Mar 2018 157,612 miles

BOTH FRONT BRAKE DISCS WORN AND CORRODED

FRONT AXLE OIL LEAK

NEARSIDE FRONT HEADLAMP SLIGHTLY DAMAGED

OIL LEAK ON BOTH FRONT HUB UNITS

SLIGHT PLAY IN NEARSIDE FRONT OUTER TRACK ROD END

Fail 12 Mar 2018 157,470 miles

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

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

FRONT AXLE OIL LEAK

BOTH FRONT BRAKE DISCS WORN AND CORRODED

NEARSIDE FRONT HEADLAMP SLIGHTLY DAMAGED

OIL LEAK ON BOTH FRONT HUB UNITS

SLIGHT PLAY IN NEARSIDE FRONT OUTER TRACK ROD END

Pass 20 Mar 2017 152,509 miles

oil leak engine

oil leak from front axle

oil leak from rear axle

Fail 14 Mar 2017 152,479 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

Fuel system component leaking fuel filter (7.2.3)

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

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

oil leak from rear axle

oil leak engine

oil leak from front axle

Pass 25 Feb 2016 145,159 miles

Nearside Headlamp damaged but light output not reduced cracked (1.7.5a)

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

Rear Lower Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush both rears (2.7.4)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 12 Dec 2014 130,087 miles
Fail 25 Nov 2014 129,184 miles

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

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

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Rear fog lamp switch faulty (1.3.1a)

Registration plate lamp shows direct white light to the rear (1.1.C.1f)

bothnb front swivel ball on front hubs leaking oil

nearside headlight lens cracket

Pass 1 Jul 2013 97,773 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp damaged but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

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

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

Oil leak

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

Steering column universal joint has slight play (2.1.5)

n/s wiper split

windscreen damaged outside of swept area

Fail 24 Jun 2013 97,214 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Headlamp damaged but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

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

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

Oil leak

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

Steering column universal joint has slight play (2.1.5)

n/s wiper split

number plate lamp lens missing and would show a white light to rear if lamp was working

windscreen damaged outside of swept area

Pass 31 May 2012 83,313 miles

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

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

Nearside Headlamp damaged but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

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

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

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

o/s/r tyre inner sidewall split but not deep enough to reach ply or cords

windscreen damaged outside of swept area

Pass 25 Jan 2011 76,147 miles

Nearside Headlamp damaged but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

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

Pass 11 Sep 2009 66,364 miles

slight play in front steering damper bush

Pass 30 May 2008 41,024 miles
Pass 23 May 2007 28,578 miles

front indicator lamps have water ingress

Pass 20 Dec 2006 26,705 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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AU53 ZYF is a 2003 Land Rover Defender in Grey with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 62.1%.

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 ZYF, 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 ZYF?

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

What year was AU53 ZYF registered?

AU53 ZYF is a 2003 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 24 December 2003.

Is AU53 ZYF safe to buy?

The MOT history for AU53 ZYF shows 29 tests with a 62.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does AU53 ZYF 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 ZYF. 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.