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BEN 53E

2002 Land Rover Defender

White Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 Jun 2027
Tests31 (22 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate71%

Mileage

63,659 mi
Last recorded63,659 miles
Recorded on29 May 2026
Typical for 2002 Land Rover Defender91,689 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

RegistrationBEN 53E
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year2002
ColourWhite
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

22 pass 9 fail
Pass 29 May 2026 63,659 miles

various signs of light corrosion to vehicle under side

Fail 26 May 2026 63,659 miles

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

Offside Front Position lamp light intensity significantly reduced (4.2.3 (a) (ii))

Offside Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

various signs of light corrosion to vehicle under side

Pass 2 Jun 2025 60,247 miles

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

Nearside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

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

Various signs of corrosion to vehicle underside

Fail 2 Jun 2025 60,247 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

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

Various signs of corrosion to vehicle underside

Pass 13 May 2024 58,442 miles

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

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Fail 13 May 2024 58,442 miles

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

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

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 24 Apr 2023 56,625 miles

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Vehicle structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Pass 25 Apr 2022 54,479 miles

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

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

Rear Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Fail 25 Apr 2022 54,479 miles

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

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

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

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

Rear Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 17 May 2021 51,622 miles

Nearside Front Oil leak, but not excessive hub swivel joint area (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt rear most joint (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front Oil leak, but not excessive hub swivel joint area (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Offside Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced central area corroded (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Rear Oil leak, but not excessive diff area (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 10 May 2021 51,612 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre(s) of different sizes are fitted on the same axle. (5.2.3 (b))

Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt A arm above rear diff (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Oil leak, but not excessive hub swivel joint area (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt rear most joint (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front Oil leak, but not excessive hub swivel joint area (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Offside Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced central area corroded (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Rear Oil leak, but not excessive diff area (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 30 Apr 2020 50,024 miles

Front Power steering pipe/hose slightly corroded both pipes under radiator (2.1.5 (g) (i))

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

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

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

Pass 21 Aug 2019 48,920 miles

Front Coil spring corroded o/s and n/s (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

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

Fail 7 Aug 2019 48,825 miles

Exhaust emissions exceed level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine (8.2.2.2 (b))

Offside Front Intermediate drop arm insecure (2.1.3 (a) (i))

Front Coil spring corroded o/s and n/s (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

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

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

Pass 20 Aug 2018 46,850 miles
Fail 13 Aug 2018 46,832 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high adjuster not working (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Headlamp aim so that beam "kick up" is not visible on the screen no pattern (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 2 Aug 2017 40,928 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Fail 2 Aug 2017 40,928 miles

Nearside Direction indicators flashing more than 120 times a minute (1.4.A.2g)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

Offside Direction indicators flashing more than 120 times a minute (1.4.A.2g)

Offside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 15 Aug 2016 36,787 miles
Pass 21 Sep 2015 36,656 miles
Pass 9 Oct 2014 35,789 miles
Pass 29 Oct 2013 34,786 miles
Fail 29 Oct 2013 34,786 miles

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

Pass 31 Oct 2012 33,001 miles

Slight oil seepage from NSF axle swivel.

Pass 9 Nov 2011 30,774 miles

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

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

Pass 14 Dec 2010 29,599 miles
Pass 20 Jan 2010 27,669 miles
Pass 7 Jan 2009 25,360 miles
Pass 21 Jan 2008 24,889 miles
Pass 1 Feb 2007 18,364 miles
Pass 1 Mar 2006 14,187 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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BEN 53E is a 2002 Land Rover Defender in White with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71%.

Across all 2002 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.1% with a typical mileage of 91,689 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 BEN 53E, 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 24 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 BEN 53E?

You can check the full history of BEN 53E by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was BEN 53E registered?

BEN 53E is a 2002 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 27 March 2002.

Is BEN 53E safe to buy?

The MOT history for BEN 53E shows 31 tests with a 71% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does BEN 53E 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 BEN 53E. 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.