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AV03 ELW

2003 Land Rover Defender

Black Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires21 Mar 2027
Tests29 (19 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate65.5%

Mileage

141,792 mi
Last recorded141,792 miles
Recorded on6 Mar 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

RegistrationAV03 ELW
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year2003
ColourBlack
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

19 pass 10 fail
Pass 6 Mar 2026 141,792 miles

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

Oil leak, but not excessive Between gearbox & transfer box. (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 17 Mar 2025 138,877 miles

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

Pass 8 Mar 2024 134,760 miles

Central Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated "A" frame balljoint dust cover (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

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

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

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

Pass 17 Mar 2023 131,386 miles

Central Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material In front of flexible hoses. (1.1.11 (c))

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

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

Steering lock not functioning (7.3 (a))

Fail 13 Mar 2023 131,386 miles

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

Steering lock not functioning (7.3 (a))

Central Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material In front of flexible hoses. (1.1.11 (c))

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

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

Pass 11 Mar 2022 127,451 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced body cross membe (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 15 Mar 2021 121,076 miles

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

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

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

Fail 15 Mar 2021 121,076 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 24 Feb 2020 113,525 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Fail 24 Feb 2020 113,525 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Offside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Pass 11 Mar 2019 113,033 miles

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

Front Registration plate insecure but not likely to fall off (0.1 (a))

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

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

horn quiet

Pass 22 Mar 2018 103,095 miles

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

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

horn not very loud

rear inner sills corroded both sides

Pass 9 Mar 2017 92,540 miles

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

large amount of travel on handbrake

n/s/r rear rear seat belt not tested

wipers split

Pass 16 Mar 2016 87,348 miles

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

Offside Front Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

Offside Rear Body has slight corrosion outer sill (6.1.B.2)

nearside and offside side steps corroded

Fail 16 Mar 2016 87,348 miles

Driver's door does not latch securely closed (6.2.B.1a)

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

Offside Front Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

Offside Rear Body has slight corrosion outer sill (6.1.B.2)

Rear registration plate missing (6.3.1a)

nearside and offside side steps corroded

Pass 18 Mar 2015 82,156 miles

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

all four doors corroded at bottom

Fail 16 Mar 2015 82,156 miles

Driver's door does not latch securely closed (6.2.B.1a)

Fuel system component leaking (7.2.3)

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

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

all four doors corroded at bottom

Pass 13 Mar 2014 75,822 miles
Fail 10 Mar 2014 75,822 miles

Brake performance not tested (3.7.A.1)

Fuel cap/sealing device missing (7.2.4a)

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

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

Nearside Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

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

Nearside Rear passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.B.1c)

Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

Both rear shocks weak

Prop-shaft universal joint worn

Pass 29 Oct 2012 67,334 miles
Pass 30 Jul 2012 65,325 miles
Pass 29 Jul 2011 58,787 miles

Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Smoke Emission's High

Fail 28 Jul 2011 58,786 miles

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

Offside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Offside Front Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

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

Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Smoke Emission's High

Pass 29 Jul 2010 52,432 miles

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

Fail 29 Jul 2010 52,432 miles

Front constant velocity joint is excessively worn (2.5.C.1b)

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

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

Rear registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

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

Pass 4 Aug 2009 45,479 miles

front no plate cracked

Fail 4 Aug 2009 45,479 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

front no plate cracked

Pass 5 Aug 2008 32,545 miles
Fail 5 Aug 2008 32,545 miles

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

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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AV03 ELW is a 2003 Land Rover Defender in Black with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65.5%.

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 AV03 ELW, 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 AV03 ELW?

You can check the full history of AV03 ELW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was AV03 ELW registered?

AV03 ELW is a 2003 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 7 March 2003.

Is AV03 ELW safe to buy?

The MOT history for AV03 ELW shows 29 tests with a 65.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does AV03 ELW 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 AV03 ELW. 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.