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C23 SAW

1998 Land Rover Defender

White Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires15 Aug 2026
Tests29 (18 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate62.1%

Mileage

219,404 mi
Last recorded219,404 miles
Recorded on16 Aug 2025
Typical for 1998 Land Rover Defender110,057 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationC23 SAW
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1998
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 11 fail
Pass 16 Aug 2025 219,404 miles

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

Wheel/tyre protruding beyond wheel arch ()

Pass 15 Aug 2024 213,294 miles
Pass 15 Aug 2023 206,782 miles

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

Pass 15 Aug 2022 199,989 miles
Fail 10 Aug 2022 199,985 miles

All position lamps adversely affected by the operation of another lamp affected by stop light (4.2.3 (c))

Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing (1.1.2 (c))

Front Oil leaking excessively from engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Front Windscreen washer jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen (3.5 (a))

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

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

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

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

Pass 25 Jun 2021 197,617 miles

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

oil leak

Pass 13 May 2020 189,273 miles

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

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

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

everything covered in wax oil

Pass 3 Sep 2018 188,363 miles

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

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

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

Offside Front Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

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

Offside Rear Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn shock absorber (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

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

Fail 30 Aug 2018 188,362 miles

Brake pedal has insufficient reserve travel (1.1.2 (a))

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

Offside Front Brake pipe leaking on a hydraulic braking system brake pipe (1.1.11 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

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

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

Offside Front Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

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

Offside Rear Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn shock absorber (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

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

Pass 23 Aug 2017 186,160 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oil leak ()

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Both n/s & o/s (3.5.1i)

Fail 21 Aug 2017 186,054 miles

Brake pipe excessively corroded Front to rear foremost (3.6.B.2c)

Front registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height (6.3.4a)

Front registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height (6.3.4a)

Nearside Front Steering system has a road wheel fouling a part of the vehicle (2.2.D.2a)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Rear registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height (6.3.4a)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oil leak ()

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Both n/s & o/s (3.5.1i)

Pass 24 Aug 2016 181,844 miles

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

Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

slight engine and diff oil leak

Fail 22 Aug 2016 181,802 miles

Nearside Drag link end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Nearside Front Trailing arm has excessive play in a pin/bush hockey stick (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Trailing arm has excessive play in a pin/bush hockey stick (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle fouling the insecure wing (4.1.D.2)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Rear Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a ball joint a frame (2.4.G.2)

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

Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

slight engine and diff oil leak

Pass 1 Jul 2015 176,305 miles

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

Fail 29 Jun 2015 176,290 miles

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

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

Nearside Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

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

Pass 23 May 2014 169,370 miles
Fail 20 May 2014 169,282 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 17 May 2013 160,138 miles

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

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Fail 14 May 2013 160,138 miles

Front position lamp(s) adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

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

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

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

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

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Pass 22 May 2012 148,330 miles

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

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Fail 16 May 2012 148,773 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nail in nearside front tyre

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Pass 13 May 2011 134,016 miles

Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Pass 13 May 2010 125,939 miles

oil leak on engine

oil leak on front diff caseing

Fail 12 May 2010 125,936 miles

Fuel tank leaking (7.2.3)

Hinged tailboard cannot be secured in the closed position (6.4.1)

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

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

Swivelling towbar swivel pin retaining device missing (6.6.5c)

oil leak on engine

oil leak on front diff caseing

Pass 8 May 2009 124,681 miles

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

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

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

after market rear body fitted .. no rear wheel arch covers fitted

Fail 6 May 2009 124,677 miles

Brake performance not tested (3.7.A.1)

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

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Nearside Rear brake disc excessively scored (3.5.1h) DANGEROUS

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

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

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

after market rear body fitted ... no rear wheel arch cover fitted to body

Pass 5 Nov 2007 123,327 miles

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

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

Fail 25 Oct 2007 123,327 miles

Nearside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle (4.1.D.2)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

Offside Front Tyre(s) incorrect because different size tyres are fitted on the same axle. (4.1.A.1a)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Windscreen wiper blade insecure (8.2.2)

Tailgate cannot be secured in the closed position (6.4.1)

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

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

Pass 12 Sep 2006 121,605 miles

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

CENTER SEAT NOT FITTED

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

REAR BODY MODIFIED ... NO WHEEL MUD GUARDS FITTED

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 SAW is a 1998 Land Rover Defender in White with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 62.1%.

Across all 1998 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.3% with a typical mileage of 110,057 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 SAW, 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 28 years old, this Land Rover Defender is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of C23 SAW?

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

What year was C23 SAW registered?

C23 SAW is a 1998 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 15 July 1998.

Is C23 SAW safe to buy?

The MOT history for C23 SAW shows 29 tests with a 62.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C23 SAW 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 SAW. 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.