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C257 SPE

1986 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires23 Sep 2027
Tests28 (21 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

33,012 mi
Last recorded33,012 miles
Recorded on2 Sep 2026
Typical for 1986 Land Rover Defender124,952 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationC257 SPE
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1986
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

21 pass 7 fail
Pass 2 Sep 2026 33,012 miles
Pass 24 Sep 2025 32,024 miles

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

Nearside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

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

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

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

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Fail 24 Sep 2025 32,022 miles

Offside Brake master cylinder/servo mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded Bulkhead (1.1.21 (e) (i))

Offside Rear Direction indicator adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.4.3 (b))

Offside Rear Position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.2.3 (c))

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

Nearside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

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

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

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

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 4 Sep 2024 30,796 miles

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

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced door pillar (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 21 Aug 2024 30,794 miles

Front Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Offside Front Driver's door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

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

Rear Registration plate insecure (0.1 (a))

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

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

Offside Front Seat belt webbing significantly weakened (7.1.2 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced door pillar (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 22 Aug 2023 29,677 miles
Pass 18 Aug 2022 29,217 miles
Pass 12 Aug 2021 29,007 miles
Pass 19 Aug 2020 28,771 miles
Pass 21 Aug 2019 27,686 miles

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

Pass 16 Aug 2018 26,592 miles
Fail 14 Aug 2018 26,583 miles

Central Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases silencer (6.1.2 (a))

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

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases tailpipe (6.1.2 (a))

offside front coil spring poorly located

rear lower shock absorber bushes worn

Pass 16 Aug 2017 26,583 miles

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

centre silencer deteriorated

slight play in rear droplink bushes

slight play in rear shock absorber mountings

Pass 4 Aug 2016 26,583 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Pass 13 Aug 2015 26,583 miles
Pass 12 Aug 2014 26,583 miles

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

Pass 20 Sep 2013 26,583 miles
Pass 20 Apr 2012 26,587 miles
Fail 12 Apr 2012 26,583 miles

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

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

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

Offside Front Panhard rod has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

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

Front brake pads wearing low.

Offside front swivel joints have some play.

Rear anti-roll bar D bushes have play.

Rear fog light faded to white to limit.

Some play in drag link end joints.

Some play in steering box.

Pass 7 Apr 2011 26,583 miles

front brake pads worn approx 2/3rds

slight play in steering drop arm ball joint.

Pass 7 May 2010 26,051 miles

Front prop shaft has some play in front U/J

Slight play in offside front wheel bearing/hub

Some movement in panhard rod offside bush.

Some vertical movement in steering box output shaft.

Fail 28 Apr 2010 26,043 miles

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

Fuel tank leaking (7.2.3)

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

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

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

Front prop shaft has some play in front U/J

Slight play in offside front wheel bearing/hub

Some imbalance on front brakes.

Some movement in panhard rod offside bush.

Some vertical movement in steering box output shaft.

Pass 29 Apr 2009 25,287 miles

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

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 23 Nov 2007 24,339 miles

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak

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

Fail 23 Nov 2007 24,339 miles

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

Rear registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak

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

Pass 3 Nov 2006 22,170 miles
Pass 2 Dec 2005 20,576 miles
Fail 1 Dec 2005 20,572 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorber insecure (2.7.2b)

Offside Front Seat belt retracting mechanism defective (5.2.5b)

Offside Front Shock absorber insecure (2.7.2b)

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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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.

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C257 SPE is a 1986 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 C257 SPE, 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 C257 SPE?

You can check the full history of C257 SPE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C257 SPE registered?

C257 SPE is a 1986 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 4 March 1986.

Is C257 SPE safe to buy?

The MOT history for C257 SPE shows 28 tests with a 75% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C257 SPE 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 C257 SPE. 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.