CarVerify

Free Car Check

C288 OVW

1986 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2500cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires22 Sep 2026
Tests16 (11 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate68.8%

Mileage

377,213 mi
Last recorded377,213 miles
Recorded on13 Sep 2025
Typical for 1986 Land Rover Defender124,952 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £14.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationC288 OVW
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1986
ColourGreen
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,500cc

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

11 pass 5 fail
Pass 13 Sep 2025 377,213 miles
Pass 23 Sep 2024 375,319 miles
Fail 11 Sep 2024 375,311 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Service brake effort inadequate at a wheel (1.2.1 (a) (i))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Rear Rear reflector missing (4.8.2 (a) (ii))

Steering column universal joint has excessive wear or play (2.2.2 (c))

Pass 30 Jan 2023 366,120 miles

Driver's door hinge deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.3 (c) (i))

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

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

Nearside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

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

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

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded also incorrectly seated (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material @brake compensator (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded also incorrectly seated (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Service brake requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 31 Jan 2022 357,419 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases At rear joint (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Offside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Front to rear on chassis rail to brake compensator. (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

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

Fail 31 Jan 2022 357,419 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases At rear joint (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Offside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Front to rear on chassis rail to brake compensator. (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

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

Fail 25 Oct 2021 357,413 miles

Driver's view of the road through the swept area of the windscreen significantly affected by an obstruction (3.1 (a) (ii))

Electrical wiring insecure and in contact with sharp edges front to rear (4.11 (a) (ii))

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

Front Brake prescribed area is excessively corroded floor/bulkhead within 30cm of brake component (1.1.21 (e) (i))

Fuel system component leaking around fuel pump (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Passenger's seat backrest cannot be secured in the upright position. (6.2.6 (a) (i))

Power steering component leaking steering box / drop arm (2.1.5 (a))

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

Steering linkage ball joint has excessive play drop arm (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Driver's seat backrest cannot be secured in the upright position. (6.2.5 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Electrical wiring inadequately secured engine bay and chassis (4.11 (a) (i))

Offside Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive gear box and transfer box (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 25 Sep 2020 315,151 miles

Bonnet stay insecure

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

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 7.50 x 16 (5.2.3 (e))

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 7.50 x 16 (5.2.3 (e))

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

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

Pass 18 Apr 2019 271,902 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

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 hockey stick arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

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

Pass 9 Apr 2018 243,332 miles

Front Items removed from driver's view prior to test ()

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

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

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

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

Offside Front Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

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

Pass 11 Apr 2017 221,714 miles

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

Pass 25 Apr 2016 221,496 miles

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 11 Jun 2014 220,559 miles

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Fail 11 Jun 2014 220,559 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 24 Jul 2013 220,545 miles

Nail in nearside front tyre

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.C.1a)

Fail 23 Jul 2013 220,545 miles

Indicator switch faulty (1.4.A.1)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Rear Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Nail in nearside front tyre

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.C.1b)

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.C.1a)

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

C288 OVW is a 1986 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,500cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 16 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68.8%.

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 C288 OVW, 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 C288 OVW?

You can check the full history of C288 OVW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C288 OVW registered?

C288 OVW is a 1986 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 31 December 1986.

Is C288 OVW safe to buy?

The MOT history for C288 OVW shows 16 tests with a 68.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C288 OVW 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 C288 OVW. 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.