CarVerify

Free Car Check

C854 RFE

2003 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2496cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires4 May 2027
Tests26 (20 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate76.9%

Mileage

19,694 mi
Last recorded19,694 miles
Recorded on5 May 2026
Typical for 2003 Land Rover Defender86,068 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 £9.99

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

RegistrationC854 RFE
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year2003
ColourGreen
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

20 pass 6 fail
Pass 5 May 2026 19,694 miles
Pass 18 Mar 2025 18,346 miles

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

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

Fail 3 Dec 2024 18,321 miles

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

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

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

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

Offside Front Wheel bearing has excessive play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

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

Oil leaking excessively from engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 30 Nov 2023 18,288 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Pass 5 Dec 2022 18,261 miles

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

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

Oil leak, but not excessive engine sump gasket (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 2 Dec 2022 18,261 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed Tread rubber perished exposing cords (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Oil leak, but not excessive engine sump gasket (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 9 Dec 2021 18,214 miles

Nearside Rear REAR SUSPENSION BUMP STOP MISSING

Fail 8 Dec 2021 18,214 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

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

Nearside Rear REAR SUSPENSION BUMP STOP MISSING

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

Pass 3 Dec 2020 18,027 miles

Central Upper Suspension component ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

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

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

Pass 27 Nov 2019 17,801 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive ROCKER COVER LEAKING (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 23 Nov 2018 17,411 miles
Fail 22 Nov 2018 17,411 miles

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

Pass 23 Nov 2017 17,380 miles

Oil leak ()

Pass 18 Nov 2016 17,007 miles

Oil leak ()

slight leak on both front hub seals

Pass 18 Nov 2015 16,355 miles
Pass 10 Dec 2014 15,950 miles

Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Fail 18 Nov 2014 15,948 miles

Nearside Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition off (1.4.B.1f)

Nearside Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition on (1.4.B.1f)

Rear fog lamp switch faulty (1.3.1a)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

passenger side of vehicle has corrosion in footwell, but not affect strength of vehicle structure

Pass 25 Nov 2013 15,493 miles

Passenger footwell small rust hole.

Pass 6 Nov 2012 14,892 miles
Pass 16 Nov 2011 14,012 miles

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

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

Pass 22 Nov 2010 13,000 miles
Fail 18 Nov 2010 12,999 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Offside Rear Braking system leaking (3.6.A.1)

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

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

Pass 11 Nov 2009 12,291 miles
Pass 11 Nov 2008 11,940 miles
Pass 21 Nov 2007 10,882 miles
Pass 27 Nov 2006 10,800 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

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

C854 RFE is a 2003 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,496cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76.9%.

Across all 2003 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.7% with a typical mileage of 86,068 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 C854 RFE, 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 23 years old, this Land Rover Defender is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of C854 RFE?

You can check the full history of C854 RFE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C854 RFE registered?

C854 RFE is a 2003 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 8 December 2003.

Is C854 RFE safe to buy?

The MOT history for C854 RFE shows 26 tests with a 76.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C854 RFE 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 C854 RFE. 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.