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C156 ETG

1985 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires9 Aug 2026
Tests26 (17 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate65.4%

Mileage

161,794 mi
Last recorded161,794 miles
Recorded on7 Aug 2025
Typical for 1985 Land Rover Defender122,807 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

RegistrationC156 ETG
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1985
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 9 fail
Pass 7 Aug 2025 161,794 miles

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

Pass 24 Jul 2024 161,777 miles
Pass 2 Aug 2023 161,593 miles
Pass 30 Jul 2022 161,010 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rear Prop shaft bearing has slight play (6.1.7 (b) (i))

Pass 10 Aug 2021 160,584 miles

Both Front hub seals leaking

Pass 6 Aug 2020 160,253 miles
Pass 2 Sep 2019 159,937 miles
Pass 15 Aug 2018 159,627 miles
Pass 12 Sep 2017 159,127 miles
Pass 2 Sep 2016 159,102 miles

Rear Propshaft universal joint worn ()

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

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive n/s and o/s/r outer chassis (2.4.A.3)

Pass 5 Sep 2015 158,758 miles

Rear Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

oil leak

Pass 26 Aug 2014 158,191 miles

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Fail 16 Aug 2014 158,188 miles

Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Nearside Rear Wheel nut(s) missing (4.2.A.1e)

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Pass 28 Sep 2013 156,907 miles

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Oil leak

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

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Fail 14 Sep 2013 156,904 miles

Centre Rear Trailing arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Fuel system component leaking (7.2.3)

Nearside Outer Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Oil leak

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

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Fail 22 May 2013 156,869 miles

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

Nearside Rear reflector missing (1.5.1a)

Offside Rear reflector missing (1.5.1a)

Rear fog lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.3.2f)

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Nearside Radius arm 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 Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Nearside Vehicle structure inadequately repaired not seriously affecting its strength with 30cm of a towbar mounting (6.6.6)

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

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly damaged (2.2.D.2b)

Offside Radius arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Vehicle structure inadequately repaired not seriously affecting its strength with 30cm of a towbar mounting (6.6.6)

Passenger seat(s) missing at time of test

Rear Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

most parts on the underside of the vehicle are lightly rusted

near and offside shock turrets are corroded

parts of the floor missing at time of test

Fail 21 Mar 2013 156,862 miles

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

Front Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on (8.2.1b)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

Nearside Rear reflector missing (1.5.1a)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Panhard rod attachment bracket modified and seriously weakened (2.4.A.2)

Offside Panhard rod rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear reflector missing (1.5.1a)

Offside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Steering box has relative movement between sector shaft and the drop arm (2.2.B.1b)

rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Nearside Drag link end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Nearside Front Radius arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Radius arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Front Radius arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Radius arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

Pass 15 Nov 2008 155,958 miles
Fail 14 Nov 2008 155,958 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

Offside Front Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users (1.8.A.1a)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

front brake discs worn

front radius arm bushes worn

small chip a zone

headamps poor condition but beam light intensity satisfactory

Pass 15 Jan 2008 154,363 miles
Fail 9 Jan 2008 154,367 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Fail 5 Nov 2007 154,367 miles

Brake performance not tested (3.7.A.1)

Emissions not tested (7.0)

Front passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

Nearside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Radius arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Seat belt has a cut which has significantly weakened the webbing (5.2.2a)

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

Offside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Radius arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Seat belt has a cut which has significantly weakened the webbing (5.2.2a)

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

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

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

Windscreen has damage to an area in excess of a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Slight leak on top of steering box

Pass 25 Oct 2006 150,819 miles
Fail 18 Oct 2006 150,712 miles

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Side repeater excessively damaged so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.4.A.2e)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Pass 27 Oct 2005 145,295 miles
Fail 15 Sep 2005 144,802 miles

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

Fuel tank leaking (7.2.3)

Nearside Front Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

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

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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C156 ETG is a 1985 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65.4%.

Across all 1985 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.3% with a typical mileage of 122,807 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 C156 ETG, 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 41 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 C156 ETG?

You can check the full history of C156 ETG by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C156 ETG registered?

C156 ETG is a 1985 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 16 August 1985.

Is C156 ETG safe to buy?

The MOT history for C156 ETG shows 26 tests with a 65.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C156 ETG 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 C156 ETG. 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.