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BF53 UPO

2003 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires9 Apr 2026
Tests29 (17 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate58.6%

Mileage

144,024 mi
Last recorded144,024 miles
Recorded on10 Apr 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 UPO
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

17 pass 12 fail
Pass 10 Apr 2025 144,024 miles

Brake pedal wearing smooth (1.1.2 (c))

Nearside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b))

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

Fail 9 Apr 2025 144,012 miles

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

Brake pedal wearing smooth (1.1.2 (c))

Nearside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b))

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

Pass 5 Apr 2024 139,412 miles

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

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

rear cross member corroded

Fail 4 Apr 2024 139,404 miles

Headlamp levelling device inoperative on both headlamps (4.1.5 (a))

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

Nearside Headlamp insecure (4.1.1 (c))

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

Offside Headlamp are incorrectly positioned (4.1.4 (a))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material surface corrosion on cross axle pipes (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Vehicle structure slightly corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting cross member corrosion started (6.1.6 (i) (i))

reverse lamp not working

Fail 25 Mar 2024 139,390 miles

Headlamp levelling device inoperative on both headlamps (4.1.5 (a))

Prop shaft securing bolt loose front of rear prop to handbrake drum (6.1.7 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) incorrectly mounted securing pin missing (1.1.13 (c)) DANGEROUS

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material surface corrosion on cross axle pipes (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Vehicle structure slightly corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting cross member corrosion started (6.1.6 (i) (i))

reverse lamp not working

Pass 19 Jan 2023 135,089 miles

Front both swivel house bearing seals seeping grease

Fuel tank damp, advise to investigate

Fail 17 Jan 2023 135,076 miles

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

Offside Front Wheel bearing has excessive play bearing/swivel house joint? (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Vehicle structure excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting offside and nearside rear chassis face (6.1.6 (i) (i))

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

Front both swivel house bearing seals seeping grease

Fuel tank damp, advise to investigate

Pass 21 Jan 2022 131,074 miles
Pass 24 Sep 2020 124,239 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp reflector slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Fail 23 Sep 2020 124,227 miles

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

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

Pass 15 Aug 2019 120,057 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material 2x front to rear, borderline (1.1.11 (c))

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

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

Offside and Nearside central rear body mounting areas corroded

Fail 14 Aug 2019 120,051 miles

Offside Rear reflector missing (4.8.2 (a) (ii))

Towbar fractured seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.1.6 (i) (i))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material 2x front to rear, borderline (1.1.11 (c))

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

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

Offside and Nearside central rear body mounting areas corroded

Pass 25 May 2018 115,752 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material 2x front to rear union (1.1.11 (c))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material 2x pipes front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3mm, inner wearing (5.2.3 (e))

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 2-3mm (5.2.3 (e))

offside and nearside centre rear body mount area corroded

Fail 24 May 2018 115,740 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension component pin or bush excessively worn lower shock absorber bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Towbar excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting chassis (6.1.6 (i) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component pin or bush excessively worn lower shock absorber bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Towbar excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting chassis (6.1.6 (i) (i))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material 2x front to rear union (1.1.11 (c))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material 2x pipes front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3mm, inner wearing (5.2.3 (e))

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 2-3mm (5.2.3 (e))

offside and nearside centre rear body mount area corroded

Pass 10 Feb 2017 112,922 miles

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

both [front to rear] brake pipes to rear brake hoses [both] unions corroded

both front to rear brake pipes have corrosion

nearside and offside of centre rear x-member corroded within 30cm of body mountings

nearside front brake pipe has corrosion

offside front tyre has uneven tread wear

Fail 25 Jan 2017 112,921 miles

Central Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid check wiper at retest (8.2.3)

Offside Front Axle swivel joint has excessive play (2.5.A.3b)

Offside Front Steering arm has relative movement at its fixings (2.2.B.1h)

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) locking device insecure (3.5.1l)

Offside Rear Fuel system component insecure filter (7.2.1)

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

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid check wiper at retest (8.2.3)

Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering box fitted) (2.2.A.1a)

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

both [front to rear] brake pipes to rear brake hoses [both ] unions corroded

both front to rear brake pipes have corrosion

nearside front brake pipe has corrosion

nearside rear and offside rear of centre rear x-member corroded within 30cm of a body mounting

offside front tyre has uneven tread wear

Pass 23 Dec 2015 107,244 miles

Offside Front Axle swivel joint has slight play (2.5.A.3b)

Pass 12 Dec 2014 103,089 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Nearside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

Offside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

fuel filter bracket damaged

Fail 12 Dec 2014 103,089 miles

Centre Rear Statutory seat belt missing (5.1.1)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Rear Statutory seat belt missing (5.1.1)

Offside Rear Statutory seat belt missing (5.1.1)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Nearside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

Offside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

fuel filter bracket damaged

Pass 18 Dec 2013 97,943 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Offside Front Axle swivel joint has slight play (2.5.A.3b)

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

Pass 9 Nov 2012 91,780 miles

Nearside mirror damaged

Fail 8 Nov 2012 91,767 miles

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

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

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

Nearside mirror damaged

Pass 3 Oct 2011 82,705 miles

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

Oil leak

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

Pass 9 Jun 2010 72,453 miles
Fail 8 Jun 2010 72,453 miles

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

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Power steering pump leaking from a failed seal (2.3.3b)

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

Pass 12 Jun 2009 64,275 miles
Fail 12 Jun 2009 64,268 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator incomplete (1.5.A1b)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone 'A' (8.3.1e)

Pass 15 Feb 2008 52,531 miles
Pass 16 Jan 2007 40,536 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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BF53 UPO is a 2003 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 58.6%.

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 UPO, 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 UPO?

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

What year was BF53 UPO registered?

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

Is BF53 UPO safe to buy?

The MOT history for BF53 UPO shows 29 tests with a 58.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does BF53 UPO 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 UPO. 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.