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C185 FGG

1985 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires18 Apr 2026
Tests26 (14 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate53.8%

Mileage

155,227 mi
Last recorded155,227 miles
Recorded on16 Apr 2025
Typical for 1985 Land Rover Defender122,807 mi

Above average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationC185 FGG
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1985
ColourGreen
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

14 pass 12 fail
Pass 16 Apr 2025 155,227 miles
Fail 3 Apr 2025 155,202 miles

Offside Front Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Pass 19 Apr 2024 155,138 miles

Front Axle bump stop rubbers missing

Front Engine mounting rubbers deteriorated

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Offside Front Floor pan / pedal area corroded

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Rear Axle Differential arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated

Rear Axle bump stop rubbers missing

Fail 18 Apr 2024 155,138 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

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

Power steering inoperative and steering adversely affected Belt Slipping (2.1.5 (c) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Front Axle bump stop rubbers missing

Front Engine mounting rubbers deteriorated

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

Nearside Front Position lamp light intensity obviously reduced (4.2.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Offside Front Floor pan / pedal area corroded

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Rear Axle Differential arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated

Rear Axle bump stop rubbers missing

Pass 18 Apr 2023 154,990 miles

Indicator tell-tale inoperative (4.9.1 (a) (i))

Lower engine mount rubber deteriorated

Nearside Front Position lamp light intensity obviously reduced (4.2.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Pedal area corroded

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear differential arm ball joint cover deteriorated

Reverse light not working

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

Fail 13 Apr 2023 154,990 miles

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

Nearside Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Offside Rear Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Rear fog lamp tell-tale not working (4.9.1 (a) (ii))

Indicator tell-tale inoperative (4.9.1 (a) (i))

Lower engine mount rubber deteriorated

Nearside Front Position lamp light intensity obviously reduced (4.2.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Pedal area corroded

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear differential arm ball joint cover deteriorated

Reverse light not working

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

Pass 19 Apr 2022 154,945 miles

Pedal area corroded

Rear Differental top ball joint cover cracked

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

Fail 19 Apr 2022 154,945 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

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

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

Pedal area corroded

Rear Differental top ball joint cover cracked

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

Pass 3 Dec 2020 154,813 miles
Fail 19 Nov 2020 154,790 miles

Driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism not functioning as intended. (6.2.5 (b) (i))

Front passenger door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

Fuel cap/sealing device missing (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Nearside Rear Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.1.2 (e) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.1.2 (e) (i))

Offside Rear Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 21 Nov 2019 154,632 miles

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Rear Position lamp incorrect colour both (4.2.3 (a) (i))

engin getting smokey,nearside front brake slight binding

long handbrake travel,suspension components+chassis members+outriggers+brake pipes+ferrules+floor corroding,slight play in steering+joints, hub seals leaking,doors stiff operation,oil leaks,exhaust hitting chassis+mounting missing,tyres perishing

Fail 21 Nov 2019 154,632 miles

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Rear Position lamp incorrect colour both (4.2.3 (a) (i))

engin getting smokey,nearside front brake slight binding

long handbrake travel,suspension components+chassis members+outriggers+brake pipes+ferrules+floor corroding,slight play in steering+joints, hub seals leaking,doors stiff operation,oil leaks,exhaust hitting chassis+mounting missing,tyres perishing

Pass 1 Nov 2018 154,485 miles

hub seals leaking,doors stiff operation,oil leaks,exhaust hitting chassis+mounting missing,tyres perishing

long handbrake travel,suspension components+chassis members+outriggers+brake pipes+ferrules+floor corroding,slight play in steering+joints,

Pass 2 Nov 2017 153,922 miles

front body mounting areas corroded

rear chassis corroded

Ball joint has slight play steering ox drop arm. and dust cover slightly insecure but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.B.1f)

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

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

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

Oil leak ()

both front tractor joints leaking but not contamination brake discs

centre exhaust mounting missing

drivers and passenger footwell areas corroded

drivers door check strap broken

Fail 2 Nov 2017 153,921 miles

Central Front Passenger's seat insecure (6.2.A.1)

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

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

Hazard warning tell tale not working correctly (1.4.B.1e)

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Ball joint has slight play steering ox drop arm. and dust cover slightly insecure but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.B.1f)

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

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

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

Oil leak ()

both front tractor joints leaking but not contamination brake discs

centre exhaust mounting missing

drivers and passenger footwell areas corroded

drivers door check strap broken

front body mounting areas corroded

rear chassis corroded

Pass 27 Sep 2016 152,998 miles

Front Vehicle structure has slight corrosion floor wells (6.1.B.2)

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

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside rear tyre cracking round sidewall

Pass 27 Oct 2015 152,499 miles

Engine oil leak noted

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

Offside rear tyre cracking round sidewall

Fail 20 Oct 2015 152,489 miles

Centre Front Drive shaft uj which forms part of the suspension has excessive play in a universal joint prop shaft U/J (2.4.G.4b)

Engine oil leak noted

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

Offside rear tyre cracking round sidewall

Pass 22 Oct 2014 151,252 miles
Fail 15 Oct 2014 151,241 miles

Fuel system component leaking (7.2.3)

Nearside Rear Braking system leaking (3.6.A.1)

Nearside Steering locking device missing (2.2.C.1g)

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 Steering locking device missing (2.2.C.1g)

Pass 15 Oct 2013 150,364 miles

Coolant leak

body fixings corroded

floors corroded

general corrosion to vehicle

wet conditions

Fail 3 Oct 2013 150,359 miles

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

Fuel cap/sealing device missing (7.2.4a)

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

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Coolant leak

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

body fixings corroded

floors corroded

general corrosion to vehicle

wet conditions

Pass 28 Dec 2006 159,210 miles
Fail 27 Dec 2006 159,205 miles

Nearside Front 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)

Rear fog lamp switch faulty (1.3.1a)

Offside Front Front suspension has slight play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Oil leak

advise bump stops missing

advise slight corrosion in fuel tank supporting bracket

Pass 29 Mar 2006 157,191 miles

Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

n/s/r indicator lens is broken. †suspension bump stops missing. †o/s/f brake hose is perished. †slight exhaust leak. †in a genral poor condtion. †

Fail 29 Mar 2006 157,191 miles

Front Windscreen has damage to the swept area in excess of a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Offside Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

o/s/f brake hose perished

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

C185 FGG is a 1985 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 53.8%.

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 C185 FGG, 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 C185 FGG?

You can check the full history of C185 FGG by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C185 FGG registered?

C185 FGG is a 1985 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 1 August 1985.

Is C185 FGG safe to buy?

The MOT history for C185 FGG shows 26 tests with a 53.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C185 FGG 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 C185 FGG. 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.