CarVerify

Free Car Check

C561 LHR

1986 Land Rover Defender

Black Diesel 3528cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 Dec 2026
Tests28 (15 pass, 13 fail)
Pass rate53.6%

Mileage

68,019 mi
Last recorded68,019 miles
Recorded on12 Dec 2025
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
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

RegistrationC561 LHR
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1986
ColourBlack
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine3,528cc

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 13 fail
Pass 12 Dec 2025 68,019 miles

front floor pans areas corroded

rear chassis corroded / painted

Fail 8 Nov 2025 67,960 miles

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

Nearside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

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

Offside Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength centre forward (outer face) chassis section holed (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength centre rear (inner face ) chassis section holed (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

front underfloor pan areas corroded

Pass 19 Dec 2024 67,467 miles

front floor pan areas corroded

Fail 7 Dec 2024 67,452 miles

Driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism not functioning as intended. (6.2.5 (b) (i))

Offside Front Brake master cylinder/servo mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded bulk head area holed (1.1.21 (e) (i))

Steering box has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering box fitted) (2.3 (a) (i))

Steering box has relative movement between sector shaft and the drop arm (2.1.3 (a) (i))

Steering box leaking oil (2.1.1 (e) (i))

front floor pan areas corroded

Pass 9 Dec 2023 66,789 miles

Nearside Rear chassis box section corroded

front floor pans corroded

steering box slight leak

Fail 2 Dec 2023 66,772 miles

Driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism not functioning as intended. (6.2.5 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Drag link end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt rear bar (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Drag link end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt rear bar (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Steering box has relative movement between sector shaft and the drop arm steering box arm to steering box loose (2.1.3 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Rear chassis box section corroded

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

front floor pans corroded

steering box slight leak

Pass 30 Nov 2022 66,191 miles

Indicator tell-tale inoperative (4.9.1 (a) (i))

Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Both front floor pans (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

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

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

Oil leak, but not excessive Engine, gearbox and power steering (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Fail 25 Nov 2022 66,171 miles

Exhaust emissions test not completed because smoke levels are significantly in excess of the specified limit values (8.2.2.2 (f))

Intermediate drop arm insecure Steering box arm loose (2.1.3 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm attachment bracket/mounting insecure Loose bolt (5.3.3 (a) (i))

Valve stem seriously damaged All 4 tyres (5.2.3 (j)) DANGEROUS

Indicator tell-tale inoperative (4.9.1 (a) (i))

Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Both front floor pans (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

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

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

Oil leak, but not excessive Engine, gearbox and power steering (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 6 Dec 2021 65,775 miles

Fluid leak, but not excessive Steering box area (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

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

Nearside Front Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced body mounting area (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Tow bar mounting area (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Fail 4 Dec 2021 65,775 miles

Nearside Front Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced cross member (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Steering box has relative movement between sector shaft and the drop arm (2.1.3 (a) (i))

Fluid leak, but not excessive Steering box area (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

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

Nearside Front Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced body mounting area (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Tow bar mounting area (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Pass 29 Dec 2020 186,336 miles

Offside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced chassis section corroded (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

front axle forward bar offside bush worn / play

Fail 18 Dec 2020 186,336 miles

Nearside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced main chassis sections holed (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Front Seat belt not functioning as intended (7.1.2 (c))

Offside Front Seat belt retracting mechanism defective (7.1.2 (e))

Offside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced chassis section corroded (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

front axle forward bar offside bush worn / play

Pass 6 Jul 2019 183,542 miles

Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

front axle forward bar offside bush slight play

nearside centre body mounting box section corroded /deteriorated

Fail 24 Jun 2019 183,536 miles

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has excessive play hub excessive movement (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

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

Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

front axle forward bar offside bush slight play

nearside centre body mounting box section corroded /deteriorated

Pass 28 Jun 2018 183,329 miles
Fail 28 Jun 2018 183,329 miles

Front Registration plate insecure (0.1 (a))

Nearside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

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

Pass 10 Dec 2016 182,218 miles

front suspension bar in front of axle offside bush slight play

Fail 3 Dec 2016 182,213 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded upper shock absorber mounting cone holed (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too far to the right (1.8)

front suspension bar in front of axle offside bush slight play

Pass 23 Dec 2015 178,896 miles

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Fail 22 Dec 2015 178,886 miles

Brake master cylinder/servo mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (3.6.C.3)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 11 Dec 2014 257,131 miles

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

Side lght & headlamp switch loose

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

Fail 2 Dec 2014 257,134 miles

Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Side lght & headlamp switch loose

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

Pass 5 Dec 2013 163,760 miles

Chassis slightly corroded

Nearside front suspension strut slightly corroded

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

Fail 31 Mar 2009 113,707 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Nearside Front Upper Axle swivel joint has excessive play in a swivel pin (2.5.A.3b)

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

Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Offside Front Upper Axle swivel joint has slight play (2.5.A.3b)

Pass 4 Apr 2008 113,362 miles

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

slight leak from steering box

Pass 22 Oct 2007 112,333 miles
Pass 28 Apr 2006 111,055 miles
Fail 12 Apr 2006 111,047 miles

Offside Rear wheel cylinder leaking (3.6.A.1)

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

C561 LHR is a 1986 Land Rover Defender in Black with a 3,528cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 53.6%.

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 C561 LHR, 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 C561 LHR?

You can check the full history of C561 LHR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C561 LHR registered?

C561 LHR is a 1986 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 12 March 1986.

Is C561 LHR safe to buy?

The MOT history for C561 LHR shows 28 tests with a 53.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C561 LHR 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 C561 LHR. 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.