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C953 XRE

1986 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires25 Sep 2025
Tests12 (8 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

192,480 mi
Last recorded192,480 miles
Recorded on22 Sep 2025
Typical for 1986 Land Rover Defender124,952 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationC953 XRE
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1986
ColourBlue
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,495cc

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

8 pass 4 fail
Fail 22 Sep 2025 192,480 miles

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

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

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

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play rear ball joint (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Prop shaft flexible coupling excessively deteriorated front u/j (6.1.7 (d) (i))

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

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

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

Steering column universal joint has excessive wear or play u/j under bonnet (2.2.2 (c))

Towbar attachment insecure (6.1.6 (c) (i))

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 to chassis/bodywork bolt insecure (2.1.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Headlamp switch does not immediately illuminate all main beam headlamps flash (4.1.3 (a))

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

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

Pass 20 Sep 2024 187,856 miles

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

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

Fail 9 Sep 2024 187,853 miles

Nearside Front Lower Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

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

Nearside Rear Position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.2.3 (c))

Rear Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn axle A frame ball joint (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Tyre(s) with different aspect ratios are fitted on the same axle. (5.2.3 (b))

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

Fluid leaking continuously posing a serious risk to road safety diesel leak (8.4.1 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Steering linkage likely to become detached front track rod (2.1.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Steering box drop arm likely to become detached cracked (2.1.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

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

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

Rear Sub-frame ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated axle A frame (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 15 Sep 2023 183,138 miles

Hydraulic leak, but not excessive power steering (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

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

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

Fail 13 Sep 2023 183,138 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play front ball joint (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing rough when rotated (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Lower Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

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

Offside Front Suspension rod pin or bush excessively worn pan hard rod (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

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

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

Towbar attachment insecure not correctly attached (6.1.6 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Service brake has no recorded effort at a wheel (1.2.1 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Service brake has no recorded effort at a wheel (1.2.1 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Hydraulic leak, but not excessive power steering (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

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

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

Pass 26 Sep 2022 177,090 miles

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Fail 14 Sep 2022 177,090 miles

Front Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements (0.1 (d))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Side repeater missing (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

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

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Rear Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements (0.1 (d))

Rear Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced crash bar (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Tyre has ply or cords damaged (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering centre mounting plate to body (6.1.1 (c) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 13 May 2010 174,422 miles

Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Body has slight displacement of the body relative to the chassis (6.1.B.1a)

Pass 11 May 2009 172,534 miles

Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 10 Jan 2008 177,201 miles

Advanced surface corrosion centre body x-member

Extensive surface corrosion on rear chassis components

Pass 14 Dec 2006 168,651 miles

both front tractor joints leaking.poss leak from front p/steering pipes.n/s/f tyre low on tread.o/s/r shock-obsorber lower bush worn.front to rear brake pipe corroded.engine smoking.corrosion starting throught under-body.

Pass 20 Dec 2005 166,026 miles

general corrosion throught under body,engine smoking,tractor joints leaking.

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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C953 XRE is a 1986 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 12 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

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 C953 XRE, 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 C953 XRE?

You can check the full history of C953 XRE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C953 XRE registered?

C953 XRE is a 1986 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 1 June 1986.

Is C953 XRE safe to buy?

The MOT history for C953 XRE shows 12 tests with a 66.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C953 XRE 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 C953 XRE. 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.