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BIG 3997

1989 Land Rover Defender

Green Petrol 4554cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires2 Jun 2026
Tests27 (16 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate59.3%

Mileage

196,502 mi
Last recorded196,502 miles
Recorded on3 Jun 2025
Typical for 1989 Land Rover Defender127,912 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Finance
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationBIG 3997
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1989
ColourGreen
Fuel typePetrol
Engine4,554cc

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

16 pass 11 fail
Pass 3 Jun 2025 196,502 miles
Pass 14 Mar 2024 195,711 miles

no nearside front seat fitted

Fail 14 Mar 2024 195,711 miles

Driver's door does not latch securely closed (6.2.3 (a))

Nearside Front Steering lock stop incorrectly adjusted (2.1.4 (b))

Offside Front Steering lock stop incorrectly adjusted (2.1.4 (b))

no nearside front seat fitted

Pass 15 Oct 2020 194,454 miles

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

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

Nearside Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

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

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

Fail 15 Oct 2020 194,454 miles

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

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

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

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

Steering linkage ball joint has excessive play drop arm (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Nearside Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

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

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

Vehicle structure is fractured but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced n/s/r and o/s/r (6.1.1 (a) (i))

Pass 23 Sep 2019 190,597 miles

Nearside Non obligatory mirror damaged ()

Fail 23 Sep 2019 190,597 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))

Nearside Non obligatory mirror damaged ()

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

Pass 4 Sep 2018 190,109 miles

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases pipe x2 (6.1.2 (a))

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

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

Pass 29 Aug 2017 189,390 miles

Rear propshaft uj worn

Rear x/member corroded

Fail 23 Aug 2017 189,373 miles

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

Rear x/member corroded

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

Rear propshaft uj worn

Pass 25 Aug 2016 188,098 miles

Axle swivel joint has slight play n/s + o/s ball hub (2.5.A.3b)

Rear Propshaft universal joint worn ()

engine oil leak

Fail 10 Aug 2016 188,076 miles

Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering (6.1.A.1)

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

Ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Nearside Front Axle swivel joint has slight play ball hub (2.5.A.3b)

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

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

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

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

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Rear Propshaft universal joint worn ()

engine oil leak

Pass 24 Aug 2015 186,427 miles

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

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

Oil leak

Prop-shaft universal joint worn

corrosion to near side rear chassis

corrosion to near side rear chassis

oil leak

prop shaft uj worn

Fail 11 Aug 2015 186,348 miles

Fuel tank leaking (7.2.3)

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

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

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

Oil leak

Prop-shaft universal joint worn

corrosion to near side rear chassis

Pass 31 Dec 2013 182,996 miles
Fail 30 Dec 2013 182,976 miles

Driver's door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

Driver's door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

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

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Starter switch faulty

Pass 2 Jan 2013 179,278 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

near and off side hub units have slight play

Pass 28 Dec 2011 174,948 miles

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

corrosion to near side front floor

rear fog lamp teltail light flickers

Fail 16 Dec 2011 174,925 miles

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (7.3.B.1b)

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

Nearside Rear reflector missing (1.5.1a)

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

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

corrosion to near side front floor

rear fog lamp teltail light flickers

steering arm from box ball joint dust cover split

Pass 13 Oct 2010 169,510 miles

off side tracking arm dust cover split at steering box end

Fail 5 Oct 2010 169,458 miles

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

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

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

off side tracking arm dust cover split at steering box end

Pass 18 Sep 2009 166,384 miles
Fail 7 Sep 2009 166,360 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Hazard warning switch faulty (1.4.B.1d)

Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged sufficient to obstruct correct operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged sufficient to obstruct correct operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.6.1)

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

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

Pass 1 Sep 2008 164,479 miles
Pass 28 Aug 2007 161,044 miles
Fail 23 Aug 2007 161,044 miles

Nearside Front Axle king pin is loose in the axle beam (2.5.A.3a)

Pass 26 Jul 2006 160,221 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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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.

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BIG 3997 is a 1989 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 4,554cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 59.3%.

Across all 1989 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.8% with a typical mileage of 127,912 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 BIG 3997, 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 37 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 BIG 3997?

You can check the full history of BIG 3997 by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was BIG 3997 registered?

BIG 3997 is a 1989 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 8 February 1989.

Is BIG 3997 safe to buy?

The MOT history for BIG 3997 shows 27 tests with a 59.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does BIG 3997 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 BIG 3997. 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.