CarVerify

Free Car Check

C497 VJL

1986 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2496cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires1 Feb 2025
Tests24 (15 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate62.5%

Mileage

175,733 mi
Last recorded175,733 miles
Recorded on2 Feb 2024
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

RegistrationC497 VJL
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1986
ColourBlue
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,496cc

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

15 pass 9 fail
Pass 2 Feb 2024 175,733 miles

Corrosion to chassis legs

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

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

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

Pass 30 Dec 2022 175,535 miles
Pass 3 Dec 2021 175,420 miles

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

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Fail 3 Dec 2021 175,420 miles

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

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Pass 14 Jul 2020 170,456 miles

Fluid leak, but not excessive Coolant (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Pass 27 Oct 2018 165,398 miles

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

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

Fail 23 Oct 2018 165,398 miles

Nearside Rear Towbar excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.1.6 (i) (i))

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

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

Offside Front Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Pitman arm (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Rear Towbar excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.1.6 (i) (i))

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

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

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

Pass 25 Jul 2017 162,552 miles

All four tyres perished

Crack in windscreen out side of drivers view

Nearside Front Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

Oil leak ()

Fail 14 Jul 2017 162,466 miles

Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine (7.4.B.3b)

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

Nearside Front Outer Side repeater incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Rear Outer Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

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

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

Offside Front Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

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

Offside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.6.1)

All four tyres perished

Crack in windscreen out side of drivers view

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

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

Nearside Front Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

Offside Front Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component Steering box (2.3.3b)

Oil leak ()

Pass 27 Nov 2015 153,520 miles

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

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

oil leak

Fail 20 Nov 2015 153,376 miles

Front registration plate obscured (6.3.1d)

Nearside Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion (6.1.C.1)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt front (2.2.C.1c)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt rear (2.2.C.1c)

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

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

Offside Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion (6.1.C.1)

Offside Front Brake pipe kinked (3.6.B.2b)

Offside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

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

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

oil leak

Pass 3 Nov 2014 150,488 miles

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

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

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

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage from a joint (2.3.3b)

Rear Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

rear bump stops missing

Fail 20 Oct 2014 150,396 miles

Front registration plate obscured (6.3.1d)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion (6.1.C.1)

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

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

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

Nearside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

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

Nearside engine mounting bracket insecure and likely to fail (6.1.D.1b)

Offside Front Brake pipe fouled by moving parts (3.6.B.2a)

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

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

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

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

Steering column shaft locking device insecure (2.1.6)

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

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Front Axle swivel joint has excessive play (2.5.A.3b) DANGEROUS

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

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

Items removed from driver's view prior to test

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

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

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

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage from a joint (2.3.3b)

Prop-shaft universal joint worn

Rear Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

Steering system lightly rubbing (2.2.D.2a)

general underbody rusty

rear bump stops missing

Fail 18 Oct 2013 146,474 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Nearside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

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

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

Offside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering (6.1.A.1)

Offside Seat belt damaged sufficient to significantly weakened the webbing (5.2.2a)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Front Leaf spring has a slightly deteriorated shackle pin rubber bush not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.B.2)

Offside Drag link end ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Rear Leaf spring has a slightly deteriorated shackle pin rubber bush not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.B.2)

Vehicle structure inadequately repaired not seriously affecting its strength with 30cm of a towbar mounting (6.6.6)

acceptable corrodsion driver seat mounting

driver door stiff to open from inside

n.s.f headlight slightlt low

slight damage to windscreen

washers poor effort

Pass 4 Sep 2012 43,154 miles

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

Pass 24 Sep 2011 139,744 miles
Fail 9 Sep 2011 139,545 miles

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

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

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

Pass 17 Sep 2010 134,554 miles

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

Pass 11 Sep 2009 128,740 miles
Pass 16 Sep 2008 122,761 miles
Pass 24 Sep 2007 116,982 miles
Fail 24 Sep 2007 116,982 miles

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

Pass 29 Sep 2006 111,831 miles
Fail 22 Sep 2006 111,512 miles

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Rear Rear position lamp(s) incorrect colour (1.1.A.3e)

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

C497 VJL is a 1986 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,496cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 62.5%.

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 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 C497 VJL, 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 C497 VJL?

You can check the full history of C497 VJL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C497 VJL registered?

C497 VJL is a 1986 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 2 May 1986.

Is C497 VJL safe to buy?

The MOT history for C497 VJL shows 24 tests with a 62.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C497 VJL 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 C497 VJL. 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.