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CE53 ECF

2003 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 Oct 2026
Tests28 (20 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate71.4%

Mileage

138,301 mi
Last recorded138,301 miles
Recorded on9 Sep 2025
Typical for 2003 Land Rover Defender86,068 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationCE53 ECF
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 8 fail
Pass 9 Sep 2025 138,301 miles
Pass 2 Sep 2024 136,004 miles

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

Pass 28 Sep 2023 133,844 miles
Pass 5 Sep 2022 130,985 miles

Offside Front Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt drop arm (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

Pass 2 Sep 2021 129,013 miles

Offside Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt drop arm (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

Pass 2 Oct 2020 125,406 miles

Front Prop shaft bearing has slight play front uj (6.1.7 (b) (i))

Pass 27 Aug 2019 120,739 miles
Pass 27 Sep 2018 114,611 miles

Nearside Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing & Offside Rear (5.3.2 (b))

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 24 Sep 2018 114,611 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle (5.2.3 (f))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively damaged dented (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Towbar excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting crossmember (6.1.6 (i) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

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

Nearside & offside Rear Axle Bump stops Missing

Nearside Front Electrical wiring inadequately secured passengers seat area (4.11 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing & Offside Rear (5.3.2 (b))

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

Offside Front Seat belt slightly damaged catch cover (7.1.2 (b) (i))

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

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Steering Damper has a Slight misting of oil

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 26 Feb 2018 114,570 miles

Nearside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle fouling tie bar. (4.1.D.2)

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

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

Offside front brake excessively fluctuating (3.7.B.3)

Rear Brake pipe kinked across axle. (3.6.B.2b)

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

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

Horn switch loose.

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

Nearside Rear axle bump stop missing.

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

Offside Front Seat belt flexible stalk damaged but not likely to lead to failure under load cover missing. (5.2.4a)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

Offside Rear axle bump stop missing.

Oil leak ()

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

Pass 25 Jan 2017 106,695 miles

Nearside Rear Towbar component slightly corroded mounting area (6.6.1)

Offside Seat belt flexible stalk damaged but not likely to lead to failure under load cover missing (5.2.4a)

Offside axle bump stop missing

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component steering box leaking (2.3.3b)

Fail 23 Jan 2017 106,695 miles

Horn not loud enough to be heard by another road user (1.6.2b)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play front arm (2.2.B.1f)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Rear Towbar component slightly corroded mounting area (6.6.1)

Offside Seat belt flexible stalk damaged but not likely to lead to failure under load cover missing (5.2.4a)

Offside axle bump stop missing

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component steering box leaking (2.3.3b)

Pass 11 Mar 2016 104,003 miles
Fail 10 Mar 2016 104,003 miles

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint link (2.4.G.2)

Pass 12 Mar 2015 98,912 miles
Pass 7 Nov 2014 98,090 miles
Fail 5 Nov 2014 98,087 miles

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

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

Offside Seat belt has a cut which has significantly weakened the webbing (5.2.2a)

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

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 5 Nov 2013 95,068 miles
Pass 9 Oct 2012 89,092 miles
Pass 29 Sep 2011 87,305 miles

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

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

Front Trailing arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

Offside outer track rod end joint cover split/missing

Fail 28 Sep 2011 87,284 miles

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

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged sufficient to significantly weakened the webbing (5.2.2a)

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

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

Front Trailing arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Nearside outer track rod end joint cover split/missing

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

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

Offside outer track rod end joint cover split/missing

Pass 8 Sep 2010 82,015 miles

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

Centre Rear Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

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

Pass 27 Aug 2009 76,512 miles

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

Fail 26 Aug 2009 76,497 miles

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

Offside Front Seat belt damaged sufficient to obstruct correct operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Rear Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

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

Pass 10 Sep 2008 69,008 miles

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

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

Pass 10 Sep 2007 58,694 miles
Pass 29 Aug 2006 47,368 miles
Fail 25 Aug 2006 47,368 miles

Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine (7.4.B.3b)

Nearside Front Seat belt has a cut which has significantly weakened the webbing (5.2.2a)

Offside Front Seat belt has a cut which has significantly weakened the webbing (5.2.2a)

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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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.

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CE53 ECF is a 2003 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71.4%.

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 CE53 ECF, 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 CE53 ECF?

You can check the full history of CE53 ECF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was CE53 ECF registered?

CE53 ECF is a 2003 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 9 September 2003.

Is CE53 ECF safe to buy?

The MOT history for CE53 ECF shows 28 tests with a 71.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does CE53 ECF 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 CE53 ECF. 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.