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C278 HTT

1986 Land Rover Defender

Black Diesel 2496cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires18 Jan 2027
Tests23 (20 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate87%

Mileage

116,973 mi
Last recorded116,973 miles
Recorded on12 Jan 2026
Typical for 1986 Land Rover Defender124,952 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationC278 HTT
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1986
ColourBlack
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,496cc

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MOT History

20 pass 3 fail
Pass 12 Jan 2026 116,973 miles
Pass 16 Jan 2025 116,567 miles

Offside Front Intermediate drop arm deformed but serviceable (2.1.3 (c) (i))

Pass 11 Jan 2024 116,446 miles
Fail 10 Jan 2024 116,428 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

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

Pass 12 Jan 2023 116,307 miles
Pass 14 Jan 2022 116,278 miles
Pass 19 Jan 2021 115,943 miles
Pass 16 Jan 2020 115,821 miles
Pass 19 Jan 2019 115,730 miles
Pass 11 Dec 2017 115,390 miles
Fail 11 Dec 2017 115,389 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Front Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe leaking (3.6.A.1) DANGEROUS

Pass 13 Dec 2016 115,192 miles
Pass 27 Nov 2015 114,809 miles
Fail 25 Nov 2015 114,793 miles

Offside Rear Fuel tank insecure Outrigger severely corroded (7.2.1)

Pass 11 Dec 2014 113,497 miles
Pass 9 Dec 2013 112,349 miles

Prop-shaft universal joint worn

Pass 17 Dec 2012 111,742 miles
Pass 14 Dec 2011 110,137 miles
Pass 13 Dec 2010 108,395 miles
Pass 14 Dec 2009 106,141 miles
Pass 27 Mar 2008 103,239 miles
Pass 23 Mar 2007 100,459 miles

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

Pass 23 Mar 2006 97,820 miles

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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C278 HTT is a 1986 Land Rover Defender in Black with a 2,496cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 87%.

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 C278 HTT, 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 C278 HTT?

You can check the full history of C278 HTT by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C278 HTT registered?

C278 HTT is a 1986 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 8 May 1986.

Is C278 HTT safe to buy?

The MOT history for C278 HTT shows 23 tests with a 87% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C278 HTT 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 C278 HTT. 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.