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C179 EFJ

1986 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2496cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires7 Apr 2027
Tests30 (20 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

147,028 mi
Last recorded147,028 miles
Recorded on8 Apr 2026
Typical for 1986 Land Rover Defender124,952 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

RegistrationC179 EFJ
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

20 pass 10 fail
Pass 8 Apr 2026 147,028 miles

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

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

Pass 1 Feb 2025 146,551 miles
Fail 1 Feb 2025 146,551 miles

Offside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 17 Feb 2024 146,313 miles

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

Pass 17 Feb 2023 145,580 miles

Rear Suspension component ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated A frame (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 19 Feb 2022 144,973 miles

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

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

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing all four (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 5 Feb 2021 144,173 miles

All tyres perished but not deep enough to reach the cords

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

Nearside Rear axle hub seal slight weap but not contaminating brake disc

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

Pass 18 Jan 2020 143,380 miles

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))

Pass 15 Dec 2018 141,768 miles
Pass 16 Dec 2017 139,779 miles
Pass 9 Dec 2016 134,218 miles
Pass 27 Nov 2015 127,190 miles
Pass 17 Nov 2014 121,615 miles
Pass 25 Nov 2013 114,473 miles
Fail 25 Nov 2013 114,473 miles

Nearside Rear reflector missing (1.5.1a)

Offside Rear Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Rear reflector missing (1.5.1a)

Pass 14 Dec 2012 114,473 miles

oil leak from rad bottom o/s

Fail 13 Dec 2012 114,473 miles

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

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high and too far to the left. (1.8)

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

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) inappropriately modified (2.3.7)

oil leak from rad bottom o/s

Pass 14 May 2011 107,262 miles
Fail 14 May 2011 107,335 miles

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

Nearside Rear brake disc contaminated by oil (3.5.1h) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a) DANGEROUS

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.C.1b)

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Fail 7 May 2011 107,070 miles

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

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp missing (1.3.2a)

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Rear Rear reflector missing (1.5.1a)

Nearside Front Upper Axle swivel joint has excessive play (2.5.A.3b) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear brake disc contaminated by oil (3.5.1h) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Fuel pipe leaking (7.2.3) DANGEROUS

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

Nearside front door mirror broken.

Pass 15 May 2010 100,744 miles

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

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

Fail 15 May 2010 100,744 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe inadequately clipped (3.6.B.1)

Pass 11 May 2009 95,826 miles
Fail 11 May 2009 95,826 miles

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

Nearside Front brake disc contaminated by oil (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Rear Rear reflector missing (1.5.1a)

Pass 8 May 2008 94,456 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp not in good working order but not adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Offside Front Headlamp not in good working order but not adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Fail 23 Apr 2008 94,149 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Nearside Front brake disc contaminated by grease (3.5.1h)

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

Nearside Front Headlamp not in good working order but not adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Offside Front Headlamp not in good working order but not adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 12 Apr 2007 92,614 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Offside Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Fail 12 Apr 2007 92,614 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Pass 1 Aug 2006 89,855 miles
Fail 14 Jul 2006 89,855 miles

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

Nearside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated (8.2.2)

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

Offside Brake master cylinder/servo mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (3.6.C.3)

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

Offside Headlamp excessively damaged so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Vehicle structure 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 Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Offside Side repeater insecure (1.4.A.2b)

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

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

both rear tyres in very poor condition

slight play in rear propshaft rear u.j

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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C179 EFJ 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 66.7%.

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 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 C179 EFJ, 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 C179 EFJ?

You can check the full history of C179 EFJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C179 EFJ registered?

C179 EFJ is a 1986 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 1 January 1986.

Is C179 EFJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for C179 EFJ 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 C179 EFJ 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 C179 EFJ. 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.