CarVerify

Free Car Check

C97 DHT

1986 Land Rover Defender

Black Diesel 2498cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires20 Dec 2026
Tests20 (15 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

141,410 mi
Last recorded141,410 miles
Recorded on11 Dec 2025
Typical for 1986 Land Rover Defender124,952 mi

Above 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

RegistrationC97 DHT
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1986
ColourBlack
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,498cc

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 5 fail
Pass 11 Dec 2025 141,410 miles

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

Pass 22 Nov 2024 138,248 miles

Front Outer Oil leak, but not excessive both hub seals (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Front Lower Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced corrosion hole outer skin of footwell area in wheel arch tub (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

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

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

Offside Front Lower Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced corrosion hole outer skin of footwell area in wheel arch tub (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

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))

Offside Rear Upper sticky/dry fuel stain around around fuel hose onto hard pipe above chassis leg

Oil leak, but not excessive large engine oil leak (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive large transmission oil leak (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced chassis corroded and covered in underseal (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Fail 21 Nov 2024 138,233 miles

Headlamp aim too low both (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Passenger's seat insecure (6.2.6 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Driver's seat insecure (6.2.5 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Front Outer Oil leak, but not excessive both hub seals (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Front Lower Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced corrosion hole outer skin of footwell area in wheel arch tub (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

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

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

Offside Front Lower Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced corrosion hole outer skin of footwell area in wheel arch tub (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

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))

Offside Rear Upper sticky/dry fuel stain around around fuel hose onto hard pipe above chassis leg

Oil leak, but not excessive large engine oil leak (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive large transmission oil leak (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced chassis corroded and covered in underseal (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 15 Dec 2023 133,096 miles

Front Outer Oil leak, but not excessive both hub seals (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

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

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

large fuel stain around fuel tank- no visible leak/drip or damage at time of test

Fail 15 Dec 2023 133,090 miles

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

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

Front Outer Oil leak, but not excessive both hub seals (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

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

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

large fuel stain around fuel tank- no visible leak/drip or damage at time of test

Pass 21 Dec 2022 125,477 miles
Fail 20 Dec 2022 125,477 miles

Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing (1.1.2 (c))

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

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

Offside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

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

Windscreen wiper not working (3.4 (a))

Pass 23 Nov 2021 123,508 miles

Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced corrosion on n/s and o/s bottom of bulk head (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive oil leaks on engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive oil leaks on gearbox/transfer box (8.4.1 (a) (i))

emissions only just passed test advise attention

handbrake effort only just passed test advise attention

Pass 16 Jul 2020 123,357 miles

Integral body structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security corrosion on bottom of bulkhead n/s and o/s (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Pass 16 Nov 2018 120,936 miles

Rear Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively rear joint (6.1.7 (c) (i))

Pass 25 Oct 2017 120,580 miles

GENERAL UNDER SIDE CORRSION

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement AXLE BUSHES (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement AXLE BUSHES (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

coil spring corroded ALL 4 SPRINGS (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 3 Nov 2016 119,627 miles
Pass 4 Nov 2015 119,054 miles

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

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

both front hub seals slightly weeping luid

oil leak

Pass 30 Sep 2014 118,339 miles

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

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

Pass 19 Aug 2013 118,084 miles
Pass 28 Nov 2012 117,999 miles

both front hubs rear seals weeping

Fail 2 Nov 2012 117,972 miles

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

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1a)

both front hubs rear seals weeping

service brake pedal has freeplay

Pass 17 Nov 2011 117,744 miles

Oil leak

offside front brake binding slightly

Pass 10 Nov 2010 117,562 miles

Both front brake discs badly pitted/ corroded

Fail 4 Nov 2010 117,562 miles

Front registration plate missing (6.3.1a)

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

Both front brake discs badly pitted/ corroded

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

C97 DHT is a 1986 Land Rover Defender in Black with a 2,498cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 20 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

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 C97 DHT, 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 C97 DHT?

You can check the full history of C97 DHT by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C97 DHT registered?

C97 DHT is a 1986 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 1 June 1986.

Is C97 DHT safe to buy?

The MOT history for C97 DHT shows 20 tests with a 75% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C97 DHT 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 C97 DHT. 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.