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B3 VJH

1985 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires13 Aug 2027
Tests28 (18 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate64.3%

Mileage

119,899 mi
Last recorded119,899 miles
Recorded on24 Jul 2026
Typical for 1985 Land Rover Defender122,807 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationB3 VJH
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1985
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

18 pass 10 fail
Pass 24 Jul 2026 119,899 miles

Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Front Steering box has seepage (2.1.1 (e) (i))

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

Fail 21 Jul 2026 119,899 miles

Central Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt a frame ball joint gaiter (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn trailing arm bushes (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn trailing arm bushes (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Front Steering box has seepage (2.1.1 (e) (i))

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

Pass 14 Aug 2025 116,960 miles

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Rear rear axle a-frame balljoint boot slightly damaged

Pass 14 Aug 2024 116,183 miles

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

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))

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

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))

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

Steering box has seepage (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Fail 22 Jul 2024 116,177 miles

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced chassis rear cross member corroded (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing perishing and 2mm (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Steering box has seepage (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing perishing and 2mm (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

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

Pass 18 Jul 2023 115,762 miles

Coolant leak

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3mm and slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3mm and slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (e))

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

Steering box has seepage (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Pass 13 Jul 2022 115,007 miles

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

Steering box has seepage (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Fail 12 Jul 2022 115,007 miles

Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

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

Steering box has seepage (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Pass 7 May 2021 113,711 miles

Nearside Front Axle swivel joint leaking

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

Offside Front Steering box has seepage (2.1.1 (e) (i))

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

Rear Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush o/s and n/s shock lower bushes (5.3.2 (c))

Fail 5 May 2021 113,710 miles

Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect o/s and n/s no beam pattern (4.1.2 (c))

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

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

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

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

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

Nearside Front Axle swivel joint leaking

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

Offside Front Steering box has seepage (2.1.1 (e) (i))

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

Rear Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush o/s and n/s shock lower bushes (5.3.2 (c))

Pass 28 May 2019 113,191 miles

Front diff input seal leaking

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

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3mm (5.2.3 (e))

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

Offside Front Steering box has seepage (2.1.1 (e) (i))

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

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3mm (5.2.3 (e))

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

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

Rear Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively front and rear uj has play (6.1.7 (c) (i))

Fail 21 May 2019 113,180 miles

Driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism not functioning as intended. (6.2.5 (b) (i))

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

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

Front diff input seal leaking

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

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3mm (5.2.3 (e))

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

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

Offside Front Steering box has seepage (2.1.1 (e) (i))

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

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3mm (5.2.3 (e))

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

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

Rear Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively front and rear uj has play (6.1.7 (c) (i))

Pass 15 May 2018 107,353 miles

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

Nearside Rear Outer side wall cracking

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a seal (2.3.3b)

Fail 1 May 2018 107,299 miles

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

rear brake recording little or no effort both sides (3.7.B.5a)

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

Nearside Rear Outer side wall cracking

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a seal (2.3.3b)

Pass 23 Mar 2017 99,914 miles

Offside Rear Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Oil leak engine

Power steering pump has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

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

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

Pass 21 Mar 2016 95,402 miles

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

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

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

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

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

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

slight fluid seepage from steering box area

Pass 15 Dec 2014 90,248 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

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

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)

oil leak engine/gearbox area

steering damper rubber bushes slightly deteriorated

Fail 3 Dec 2014 90,248 miles

Brake fluid warning lamp illuminated (3.6.G.2)

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

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

Offside Front brake caliper leaking (3.6.A.1)

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

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

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

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)

Prop-shaft flange bolt(s) loose/missing

Prop-shaft universal joint worn

oil leak engine/gearbox area

steering damper rubber bushes slightly deteriorated

Pass 12 Nov 2013 84,808 miles

Nearside Drag link end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Nearside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Offside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

fluid seepage, engine/gearbox area. advise further check

rear prop shaft, front coupling, has one nut loose

Fail 12 Nov 2013 84,808 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Front Direction indicator adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.4.A.2h)

Nearside Drag link end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Nearside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Offside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

fluid seepage, engine/gearbox area. advise further check

rear prop shaft, front coupling, has one nut loose

Pass 17 Sep 2012 79,448 miles

Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Drag link end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

slight fluid seepage from front crossmember area,possibly power steering fluid. advise further check

Pass 17 May 2011 59,032 miles

Diff. oil leak

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Propshaft component defective

Fail 14 May 2011 59,018 miles

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

rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Fuel system component leaking (7.2.3) DANGEROUS

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) DANGEROUS

Diff. oil leak

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Propshaft component defective

Pass 1 Apr 2010 53,479 miles

Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

fluid seepage from around fuel filter area.advise further check

parking brake lever has little reserve travel

rear propshaft front flange nuts not fully tight

Pass 14 Nov 2008 44,376 miles
Pass 21 Oct 2007 32,837 miles
Pass 14 May 2006 21,135 miles

second chassis number on offside front chassis rail has been removed and overpainted i suspect that vehicle is not originally manufactured in 1985 , chassis plate is attached with non standard rivets. †stonechip in windscreen, †play in steering sytem

Fail 10 Feb 2006 101,386 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low when the centre of the headlamp is below 850mm from the ground (1.6.B2)

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

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Brake master cylinder/servo mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (3.6.C.3)

Offside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is fractured (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

This vehicle is corroded throughout.

brake pipes corroded

engine and gear box leaking

n/s/f under window corroded.

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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

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.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

B3 VJH is a 1985 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.3%.

Across all 1985 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.3% with a typical mileage of 122,807 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 B3 VJH, 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 41 years old, this Land Rover Defender is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of B3 VJH?

You can check the full history of B3 VJH by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was B3 VJH registered?

B3 VJH is a 1985 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 31 December 1985.

Is B3 VJH safe to buy?

The MOT history for B3 VJH shows 28 tests with a 64.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does B3 VJH 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 B3 VJH. 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.