CarVerify

Free Car Check

C161 SAO

1986 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2496cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires5 Feb 2027
Tests30 (21 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate70%

Mileage

118,613 mi
Last recorded118,613 miles
Recorded on28 Jan 2026
Typical for 1986 Land Rover Defender124,952 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £14.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationC161 SAO
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1986
ColourGreen
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,496cc

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

21 pass 9 fail
Pass 28 Jan 2026 118,613 miles

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

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

Pass 6 Feb 2025 114,368 miles

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

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

Fail 29 Jan 2025 114,368 miles

Exhaust system insecure (6.1.2 (a))

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

Hazard warning switch inoperative (4.4.2 (a) (ii))

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

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

Offside Rear Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced X3. (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Power steering component leaking fluid empty (2.1.5 (a))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Front Inner Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick both (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Fuel tank leaking excessively or a risk of fire (6.1.3 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Steering box has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel to the extent that safe steering is affected (steering box fitted) lower steering uj worn and loose (2.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

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

Pass 19 Jan 2024 109,499 miles

FUEL TANK CORRODED

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

Front Inner Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

Fail 17 Jan 2024 109,499 miles

Fuel system component leaking (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Power steering pump leaking (2.1.5 (a))

Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded BOTH ACROSS AXLE (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Upper Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush BOTH (5.3.2 (c))

Steering linkage ball joint has excessive play DROP ARM JOINT (2.1.3 (b) (i))

FUEL TANK CORRODED

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

Front Inner Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Pass 11 Jan 2023 104,174 miles

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

Front Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively rear joint (6.1.7 (c) (i))

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

Offside Front Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt steering arm joint (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Fail 10 Jan 2023 104,174 miles

Brake servo defective or ineffective (1.1.10 (a) (i))

Exhaust system insecure (6.1.2 (a))

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

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

Front Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively rear joint (6.1.7 (c) (i))

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

Offside Front Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt steering arm joint (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 4 Feb 2022 100,769 miles

Nearside Front 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))

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

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

Power steering pump has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Fail 3 Feb 2022 100,769 miles

Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Steering column attachment defective lower uj (2.2.2 (d) (i))

Nearside Front 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))

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

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

Power steering pump has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 15 Jan 2021 97,668 miles

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

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

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

Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Fail 15 Jan 2021 97,668 miles

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

Front Exhaust system insecure (6.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Nearside Front All direction indicators flashing more than 120 times a minute (4.4.4 (a))

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

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

Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 30 Jan 2020 95,077 miles

Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Fail 29 Jan 2020 95,077 miles

Exhaust emissions likely to be affected by an exhaust leak (8.2.2.1 (b))

Exhaust silencer insecure (8.1.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers insecurely attached turet holed (5.3.2 (a) (i))

Offside Front Shock absorbers insecurely attached turet holed (5.3.2 (a) (i))

Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 20 Mar 2019 92,567 miles

Front Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

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

Fail 20 Mar 2019 92,567 miles

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

Front Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

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

Power steering pump has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

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

Pass 13 Apr 2018 90,051 miles

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

Fail 12 Apr 2018 90,051 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Pass 1 Apr 2017 88,823 miles
Fail 22 Mar 2017 88,821 miles

Nearside Front brake disc contaminated by oil (3.5.1h)

Nearside Front brake disc contaminated by oil (3.5.1h)

Pass 15 Mar 2016 88,118 miles
Pass 18 Mar 2015 85,468 miles
Pass 25 Mar 2014 82,912 miles
Pass 21 Mar 2013 80,096 miles
Pass 4 Apr 2012 76,322 miles
Pass 7 Apr 2011 75,320 miles
Pass 8 Apr 2010 74,599 miles
Pass 2 Apr 2009 74,120 miles
Pass 10 Apr 2008 73,764 miles
Pass 10 Apr 2007 73,266 miles
Pass 5 Apr 2006 72,359 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

C161 SAO is a 1986 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,496cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 30 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 70%.

Across all 1986 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 68.7% with a typical mileage of 124,952 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

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 C161 SAO, 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 40 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 C161 SAO?

You can check the full history of C161 SAO by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C161 SAO registered?

C161 SAO is a 1986 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 15 April 1986.

Is C161 SAO safe to buy?

The MOT history for C161 SAO shows 30 tests with a 70% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C161 SAO 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 C161 SAO. 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.