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CE53 ECW

2003 Land Rover Defender

Red Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires20 Oct 2026
Tests29 (20 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate69%

Mileage

133,145 mi
Last recorded133,145 miles
Recorded on6 Oct 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 ECW
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year2003
ColourRed
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 9 fail
Pass 6 Oct 2025 133,145 miles

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

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

Pass 21 Oct 2024 130,357 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 19 Oct 2023 126,714 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing both rear tyres perished and 13 years old (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Pass 4 Aug 2022 123,741 miles

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

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

Nearside Front Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

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

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

Pass 27 Aug 2021 121,479 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fail 25 Aug 2021 121,426 miles

Central Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt A frame joint (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

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

Vehicle structure excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.1.6 (i) (i))

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 4 Aug 2020 113,647 miles

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

poor wiper sweep

Fail 4 Aug 2020 113,647 miles

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

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

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

poor wiper sweep

Pass 11 Apr 2019 108,477 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 17 Aug 2018 107,386 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

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

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

Fail 17 Aug 2018 107,373 miles

Exhaust emissions test aborted because smoke levels are significantly in excess of the specified limit values (8.2.2.2 (f))

Fuel cap/sealing device ineffective (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

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

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

Pass 11 Apr 2017 103,703 miles

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

servo pipe in poor condition

slight lift in drop arm ball joint

Fail 6 Apr 2017 103,674 miles

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

Fuel system component leaking (7.2.3)

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

servo pipe in poor condition

slight lift in drop arm ball joint

Pass 15 Apr 2016 97,052 miles
Pass 1 Apr 2015 87,850 miles
Fail 31 Mar 2015 87,847 miles

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Pass 13 Mar 2014 79,520 miles

front seat belts in poor condition

Fail 12 Mar 2014 79,520 miles

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

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

front seat belts in poor condition

Pass 10 Apr 2013 71,599 miles

front outer seat belts in poor condition

Fail 9 Apr 2013 71,599 miles

Centre Statutory seat belt missing (5.1.1)

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

Nearside Rear Lower Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Rear Lower Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Rear Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

front outer seat belts in poor condition

Pass 21 Jun 2012 64,908 miles

Nearside Front Steering system lightly rubbing (2.2.D.2a)

Pass 27 Jun 2011 60,660 miles

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

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

front brake imbalance seems high mid-way thru range of effort

front radius bushes are worn

nearside front tire sidewall is starting to crack

offside front seat belt buckle held together with tape

offside rear of engine at top looks damp with oil?

slight play in steering box drop arm ball joint

Fail 22 Jun 2011 60,659 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too far to the right (1.8)

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

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

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

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

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

Offside Rear Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

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

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

brake and clutch pedal rubbers are badly worn

front brake imbalance seems high mid-way thru range of effort

front radius bushes are worn

initial smoke test was high, passed after a run

nearside front tire sidewall is starting to crack

offside front seat belt buckle held together with tape

offside rear of engine at top looks damp with oil?

rear service brake efficiency is very low

slight play in steering box drop arm ball joint

Pass 1 Jun 2010 58,344 miles
Pass 2 Jun 2009 53,500 miles

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

Pass 21 May 2008 46,740 miles

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

Fail 21 May 2008 46,740 miles

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

Offside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Pass 29 May 2007 38,761 miles
Pass 7 Sep 2006 36,673 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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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 ECW is a 2003 Land Rover Defender in Red with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 69%.

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 ECW, 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 ECW?

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

What year was CE53 ECW registered?

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

Is CE53 ECW safe to buy?

The MOT history for CE53 ECW shows 29 tests with a 69% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does CE53 ECW 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 ECW. 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.