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BF53 USD

2003 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires17 Dec 2026
Tests30 (20 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

98,230 mi
Last recorded98,230 miles
Recorded on5 Dec 2025
Typical for 2003 Land Rover Defender86,068 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationBF53 USD
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 10 fail
Pass 5 Dec 2025 98,230 miles

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

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

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

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

Offside Front Oil leak, but not excessive Engine oil leak. (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Rear Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively Rear universal joint worn - play in joint. (6.1.7 (c) (i))

Fail 1 Dec 2025 98,227 miles

Nearside Front Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Cross rod ball joint (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Front 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 Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Drop arm ball joint (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front 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))

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

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

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

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

Offside Front Oil leak, but not excessive Engine oil leak. (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Rear Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively Rear universal joint worn - play in joint. (6.1.7 (c) (i))

Pass 4 Dec 2024 95,798 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both before and after flexi hose. (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Outer Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Corroded front face. Reduced swept area. (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

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

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both before and after flexi hose. (1.1.11 (c))

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

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

Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Rear axle radius arm front bushes splitting (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 3 Dec 2024 95,795 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Connection rod (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Steering box connection rod (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

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

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Connection rod (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both before and after flexi hose. (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Outer Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Corroded front face. Reduced swept area. (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

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

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both before and after flexi hose. (1.1.11 (c))

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

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

Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Rear axle radius arm front bushes splitting (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 7 Dec 2023 94,244 miles

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material at wheels ends are corroded (1.1.11 (c))

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

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material at wheels ends are corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Fail 6 Dec 2023 94,240 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

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

Offside Front Drag link end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material at wheels ends are corroded (1.1.11 (c))

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

Offside Front Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material at wheels ends are corroded (1.1.11 (c))

hand brake just pass at 16%

Pass 16 Dec 2022 92,720 miles

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

Rear Upper Suspension component ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated had a temporary repair carried out (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Fail 6 Dec 2022 92,668 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 15 Dec 2021 91,164 miles
Pass 11 Dec 2020 88,758 miles
Pass 17 Dec 2019 86,629 miles
Pass 18 Dec 2018 85,028 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 31 Jul 2017 81,785 miles
Fail 31 Jul 2017 81,785 miles

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 26 Aug 2016 80,001 miles
Fail 24 Aug 2016 79,952 miles

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

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

Pass 14 Jul 2015 77,575 miles
Fail 25 Jul 2014 75,170 miles

Nail in offside rear tyre

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

coolant level is low

o/s/f, n/s/r, o/s/r tyre's slight cracking to sidewalls but no cord or ply exposed

Pass 25 Jul 2014 75,170 miles

Nail in offside rear tyre

coolant level is low

o/s/f, n/s/r, o/s/r tyre's slight cracking to sidewalls but no cord or ply exposed

Fail 29 Jul 2013 71,838 miles

Both rear tyres cracking around wheel rim

Nearside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

o/s front tyre cracking around wheel rim

Pass 29 Jul 2013 71,838 miles

Both rear tyres cracking around wheel rim

o/s front tyre cracking around wheel rim

Pass 19 Jul 2012 65,613 miles
Pass 20 Sep 2011 61,328 miles

Nail in offside front tyre

Fail 17 Sep 2010 54,341 miles

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

Pass 17 Sep 2010 54,341 miles
Pass 14 Sep 2009 45,785 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Pass 25 Sep 2008 40,734 miles
Pass 17 Sep 2007 36,209 miles
Pass 14 Aug 2006 32,251 miles
Fail 14 Aug 2006 32,251 miles

Front An item not tested (Manual)

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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 USD is a 2003 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 30 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

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 USD, 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 USD?

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

What year was BF53 USD registered?

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

Is BF53 USD safe to buy?

The MOT history for BF53 USD shows 30 tests with a 66.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does BF53 USD 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 USD. 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.