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C173 RJC

1985 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires19 Aug 2027
Tests19 (12 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate63.2%

Mileage

163,844 mi
Last recorded163,844 miles
Recorded on20 Aug 2026
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
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationC173 RJC
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

12 pass 7 fail
Pass 20 Aug 2026 163,844 miles
Fail 20 Aug 2026 163,843 miles

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

Nearside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 18 Aug 2025 163,744 miles
Fail 18 Aug 2025 163,744 miles

Nearside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 6 Sep 2016 158,614 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread and rear (6.3.1d)

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

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

Nearside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

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)

Pass 10 Sep 2015 148,347 miles
Fail 10 Sep 2015 148,347 miles

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

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

Pass 9 Aug 2014 142,017 miles

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

Oil leak

travel on brake pedal efficiency ok

Fail 5 Aug 2014 142,017 miles

Brake performance not tested (3.7.A.1)

Emissions not tested (7.0)

Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar vehicle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (7.1.4)

Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Fuel cap/sealing device sealing washer missing (7.2.4c)

Hazard warning lamps inoperative (1.4.B.1b)

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1b)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1a)

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

Oil leak

Pass 1 Aug 2013 139,076 miles

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

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

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

n/s/f bumpstop missing

Fail 31 Jul 2013 139,065 miles

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.6.6)

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

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

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

n/s/f bumpstop missing

Pass 26 Jul 2012 136,673 miles
Pass 4 Aug 2011 134,661 miles

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

Fail 1 Aug 2011 134,661 miles

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

Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

Pass 9 Jul 2010 132,567 miles

rear propshaft uj worn out and slight leak from rear section exhaust

Fail 29 Jun 2010 132,567 miles

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

rear propshaft uj worn out and slight leak from rear section exhaust

Pass 1 Jul 2009 127,969 miles
Pass 8 Mar 2007 126,875 miles
Pass 31 Mar 2006 125,652 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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C173 RJC is a 1985 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.2%.

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 C173 RJC, 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 C173 RJC?

You can check the full history of C173 RJC by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C173 RJC registered?

C173 RJC is a 1985 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 10 October 1985.

Is C173 RJC safe to buy?

The MOT history for C173 RJC shows 19 tests with a 63.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C173 RJC 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 C173 RJC. 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.