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CA52 SYO

2003 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires17 Mar 2027
Tests30 (20 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

81,488 mi
Last recorded81,488 miles
Recorded on18 Mar 2026
Typical for 2003 Land Rover Defender86,068 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationCA52 SYO
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year2003
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

20 pass 10 fail
Pass 18 Mar 2026 81,488 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge and over 10 yrs old (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front bump top missing

Fail 9 Mar 2026 81,487 miles

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

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

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength outrigger (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Drag link end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Brake pipe connection leaking on a hydraulic braking system (1.1.11 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Service brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.2.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front bump top missing

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge and over 10 yrs old (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 14 Feb 2025 76,813 miles

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

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

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

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

Offside Front bump stop missing

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

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

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

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

n/s&o/s rear brake shields corroded

Fail 10 Feb 2025 76,813 miles

Offside Drag link end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Windscreen wiper not working (3.4 (a))

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

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

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

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

Offside Front bump stop missing

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

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

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

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

n/s&o/s rear brake shields corroded

Pass 19 Jan 2024 72,827 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front bump stop missing

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Fail 11 Jan 2024 72,827 miles

Fluid leak harmful to the environment or a risk to other road users (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe inadequately clipped or supported (1.1.11 (d) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front bump stop missing

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Pass 16 Dec 2022 67,256 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

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

rear shock absorber covers loose

Fail 6 Dec 2022 67,256 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

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

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

rear shock absorber covers loose

Pass 5 Jan 2022 63,052 miles
Pass 7 Jan 2021 57,863 miles
Pass 17 Oct 2019 53,066 miles
Pass 29 Oct 2018 48,484 miles

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

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 25 Oct 2017 45,675 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Nearside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit n/s rear tyre on 2mm (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

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

Offside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded rear brake pipe across back axle starting to corrode (3.6.B.2c)

locking tab for steering box corroded

slight oil leak from o/s front uj seal

Fail 23 Oct 2017 45,673 miles

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

Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

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

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim so that beam "kick up" is not visible on the screen (1.8.B.1)

Nearside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit n/s rear tyre on 2mm (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

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

Offside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded rear brake pipe across back axle starting to corrode (3.6.B.2c)

locking tab for steering box corroded

slight oil leak from o/s front uj seal

Pass 24 Oct 2016 43,482 miles
Fail 24 Oct 2016 43,482 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Pass 3 Nov 2015 40,650 miles
Fail 26 Oct 2015 40,650 miles

Offside Rear Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Fail 28 Oct 2014 34,862 miles

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Pass 28 Oct 2014 34,862 miles
Pass 24 Oct 2013 31,112 miles

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 2 Nov 2012 27,542 miles
Fail 31 Oct 2012 27,540 miles

Offside rear brake juddering severely (3.7.A.5b)

rear brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

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

Pass 26 Oct 2011 23,808 miles

REAR DISCS PITTED

Pass 27 Oct 2010 19,758 miles
Fail 27 Oct 2010 19,758 miles

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Pass 27 Oct 2009 15,601 miles
Pass 30 Oct 2008 12,535 miles
Pass 26 Oct 2007 10,312 miles

Coolant leak

Pass 30 Oct 2006 8,078 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

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CA52 SYO is a 2003 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 30 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

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 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 CA52 SYO, 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 CA52 SYO?

You can check the full history of CA52 SYO by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was CA52 SYO registered?

CA52 SYO is a 2003 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 28 February 2003.

Is CA52 SYO safe to buy?

The MOT history for CA52 SYO shows 30 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 CA52 SYO 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 CA52 SYO. 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.