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C23 JLR

1990 Land Rover Defender

White Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 Oct 2026
Tests32 (18 pass, 14 fail)
Pass rate56.3%

Mileage

204,478 mi
Last recorded204,478 miles
Recorded on2 Oct 2025
Typical for 1990 Land Rover Defender127,503 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationC23 JLR
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1990
ColourWhite
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

18 pass 14 fail
Pass 2 Oct 2025 204,478 miles

Hazard warning tell-tale inoperative (4.9.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe inadequately clipped or supported (1.1.11 (d) (i))

Fail 2 Oct 2025 204,478 miles

Exhaust emissions exceed level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine (8.2.2.2 (b))

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

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

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

Offside Dipswitch operation does not deflect all main beam headlamps to make them dipped beams (4.1.3 (b))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Parking brake lever has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustment (1.1.6 (c))

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

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

Steering box has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering box fitted) (2.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Service brake has no recorded effort at a wheel (1.2.1 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Service brake has no recorded effort at a wheel (1.2.1 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Steering box drop arm likely to become detached (2.1.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Hazard warning tell-tale inoperative (4.9.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe inadequately clipped or supported (1.1.11 (d) (i))

Pass 21 Dec 2023 198,613 miles

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

Hazard warning tell-tale inoperative (4.9.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Lower Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Fail 20 Dec 2023 198,599 miles

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

Steering box has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering box fitted) (2.3 (a) (i))

Steering wheel rim fractured (2.2.1 (c) (i))

Front Electrical wiring likely to touch hot or rotating parts Rubbing on front prop. (4.11 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

Hazard warning tell-tale inoperative (4.9.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Lower Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Pass 19 Dec 2022 191,482 miles

Front passenger door catch deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.3 (c) (i))

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

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

Steering box has seepage (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.2.2 (b))

Sub-frame is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 14 Dec 2021 188,600 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Offside Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Offside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component Steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.2.2 (b))

Wheel/tyre protruding beyond wheel arch All ()

Fail 16 Nov 2021 188,548 miles

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

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

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

Offside Drag link end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

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

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Wheel bearing rough when rotated (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

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

Offside Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component Steering box (2.1.5 (a))

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

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.2.2 (b))

Wheel/tyre protruding beyond wheel arch All ()

Pass 21 Oct 2020 187,154 miles

Hazard warning tell-tale inoperative (4.9.1 (a) (i))

Indicator switch faulty (4.4.2 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside 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 has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.2.2 (b))

Fail 21 Oct 2020 187,154 miles

Hazard warning tell-tale inoperative (4.9.1 (a) (i))

Indicator switch faulty (4.4.2 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside 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 has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.2.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Fail 13 Oct 2020 187,116 miles

Nearside Dipswitch operation does not deflect all main beam headlamps to make them dipped beams (4.1.3 (b))

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

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

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing rough when rotated (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Parking brake lever has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustment (1.1.6 (c))

Hazard warning tell-tale inoperative (4.9.1 (a) (i))

Indicator switch faulty (4.4.2 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Side repeater insecure (4.4.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.2.2 (b))

Pass 31 Oct 2019 185,807 miles
Pass 5 Sep 2017 177,247 miles
Pass 28 Jun 2016 171,638 miles

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Fail 28 Jun 2016 171,635 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 2 Jul 2015 170,132 miles

Underside of vehicle very muddy

Fail 2 Jul 2015 170,132 miles

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

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Underside of vehicle very muddy

Pass 25 Jun 2014 162,531 miles

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Fail 16 Jun 2014 162,531 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

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

Steering arm has relative movement at its fixings (2.2.B.1h)

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

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

Pass 19 Jun 2013 158,840 miles

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

Fail 13 Jun 2013 158,735 miles

Nearside Front Ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

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

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

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

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

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

drivers wiperblade poor

Pass 21 Jun 2012 156,516 miles

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Fail 14 Jun 2011 154,240 miles

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

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

Nearside Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear position lamp(s) slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

Pass 14 Jun 2011 154,240 miles

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

Nearside Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

Offside Rear position lamp(s) slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

Pass 25 Jun 2010 150,274 miles

tyres slighlty loosing shape

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

near side rear tyre tread cracking

Fail 22 Jun 2010 150,272 miles

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

Brake hydraulic reservoir fluid level below minimum level (3.6.G.1b)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

near side rear tyre tread cracking

tyres slighlty loosing shape

Pass 25 Jun 2009 147,636 miles

Front Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Fail 22 Jun 2009 147,607 miles

Nearside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

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

Front Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 20 Jun 2008 142,756 miles
Fail 16 Jun 2008 142,687 miles

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

Offside Front Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

Nearside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 8 Jun 2007 137,751 miles
Pass 23 Jun 2006 131,529 miles
Fail 16 Jun 2006 131,517 miles

Lower Steering column universal joint has excessive play (2.1.5)

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Offside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.6.1)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has slight external damage to the casing (2.7.2a)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has slight external damage to the casing (2.7.2a)

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

C23 JLR is a 1990 Land Rover Defender in White with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 32 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 56.3%.

Across all 1990 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.7% with a typical mileage of 127,503 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 C23 JLR, 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 36 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 C23 JLR?

You can check the full history of C23 JLR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C23 JLR registered?

C23 JLR is a 1990 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 7 April 1990.

Is C23 JLR safe to buy?

The MOT history for C23 JLR shows 32 tests with a 56.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C23 JLR 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 C23 JLR. 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.