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BF53 AVG

2003 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires6 Oct 2026
Tests32 (20 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate62.5%

Mileage

141,521 mi
Last recorded141,521 miles
Recorded on2 Oct 2025
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

RegistrationBF53 AVG
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year2003
ColourBlue
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 12 fail
Pass 2 Oct 2025 141,521 miles

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

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

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

Fail 2 Oct 2025 141,521 miles

Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover missing (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

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

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

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

Pass 1 Oct 2024 140,616 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

Fail 1 Oct 2024 140,615 miles

Exhaust emissions exceed default limit of 1.5m-1 (8.2.2.2 (b))

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

Pass 5 Oct 2023 140,232 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material n/s/f brake pipe going into caliper corroded slightly (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Seat belt buckle slightly damaged o/s/f seat belt buckle casing damaged (7.1.2 (d))

Offside Front Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt steering box drop arm ball joint gator has a clip missing but still preventing ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Fail 5 Oct 2023 140,232 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material n/s/f brake pipe going into caliper corroded slightly (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Seat belt buckle slightly damaged o/s/f seat belt buckle casing damaged (7.1.2 (d))

Offside Front Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt steering box drop arm ball joint gator has a clip missing but still preventing ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Pass 7 Oct 2022 138,938 miles

Front Oil leak, but not excessive rear crankshaft oil seal slightly leaking (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Oil leak, but not excessive o/s/f hub seal leaking slightly (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Seat belt buckle slightly damaged (7.1.2 (d))

Offside Front Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt joint on end of steering box arm, clip missing off gator (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Fail 4 Oct 2022 138,929 miles

Front Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Front Windscreen wiper not working (3.4 (a))

Nearside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

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

Rear Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush both rear shocker bottom bushes has excessive play (5.3.2 (c))

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

Offside Front Oil leak, but not excessive o/s/f hub seal leaking slightly (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Seat belt buckle slightly damaged (7.1.2 (d))

Offside Front Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt joint on end of steering box arm, clip missing off gator (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Pass 30 Sep 2021 137,626 miles

Front Oil leak, but not excessive Rear crankshaft seal has a slight leak (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Seat belt buckle slightly damaged (7.1.2 (d))

Fail 28 Sep 2021 137,619 miles

Front Oil leaking excessively from engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn n/s/f trailing arm bush split from core and has to much movement (front bush) (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play n/s/f track rod end has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play steering box arm track rod end has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick o/s/r inner pad below 1.5mm (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Front Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush steering damper has a worn bush but not excessive play (5.3.2 (c))

Offside Front Seat belt buckle slightly damaged (7.1.2 (d))

Fail 11 Aug 2021 137,601 miles

Exhaust catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard (8.2.2.1 (a))

Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar vehicle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition straight through pipe from engine (8.1.1 (a))

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

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

Oil leaking excessively from engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush top and bottom bushes on both sides (5.3.2 (c))

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

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Rear Service brake requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair (1.2.1 (c))

Pass 17 Aug 2020 130,295 miles

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

Nearside Front Drag link end ball joint has slight play Rear (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Upper 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))

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

Offside Front Outer Suspension unit damaged but not to excess Axle hub seal worn and seeping fluid (5.3.5 (b) (i))

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

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

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

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

Steering damper bush worn

Under body muddy

Fail 17 Aug 2020 130,295 miles

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

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

Nearside Front Drag link end ball joint has slight play Rear (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Upper 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))

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

Offside Front Outer Suspension unit damaged but not to excess Axle hub seal worn and seeping fluid (5.3.5 (b) (i))

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

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

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

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

Steering damper bush worn

Under body muddy

Pass 24 Jul 2019 125,970 miles

Offside Rear fuel filter leaking

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

Pass 11 Jul 2018 124,795 miles

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

Offside Front Seat belt buckle slightly damaged (7.1.2 (d))

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

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

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

slight oil leak

Pass 17 Jul 2017 122,421 miles

Oil leak from engine ()

Fail 17 Jul 2017 122,421 miles

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

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

Oil leak from engine ()

Pass 19 Jul 2016 120,797 miles

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

Offside Front Seat belt flexible stalk damaged but not likely to lead to failure under load (5.2.4a)

Offside Front tyre wearing on inner edge

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

Rear registration plate delaminated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Fail 19 Jul 2016 120,797 miles

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

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

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

Offside Front Seat belt flexible stalk damaged but not likely to lead to failure under load (5.2.4a)

Offside Front tyre wearing on inner edge

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

Rear registration plate delaminated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Fail 17 Jul 2015 119,242 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 17 Jul 2015 119,242 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 22 Jul 2014 116,243 miles
Pass 17 Jul 2013 112,438 miles
Fail 15 Jul 2013 112,420 miles

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

Pass 20 Jul 2012 108,788 miles
Pass 29 Jul 2011 104,930 miles
Pass 19 Aug 2010 100,493 miles
Pass 24 Aug 2009 94,070 miles
Fail 24 Aug 2009 94,070 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 15 Aug 2008 89,975 miles
Pass 30 Aug 2007 84,282 miles
Pass 18 Aug 2006 79,695 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

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

BF53 AVG is a 2003 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 32 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 62.5%.

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 BF53 AVG, 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 BF53 AVG?

You can check the full history of BF53 AVG by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was BF53 AVG registered?

BF53 AVG is a 2003 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 1 September 2003.

Is BF53 AVG safe to buy?

The MOT history for BF53 AVG shows 32 tests with a 62.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does BF53 AVG 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 BF53 AVG. 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.