CarVerify

Free Car Check

D181 GBX

1986 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 May 2027
Tests21 (17 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate81%

Mileage

88,388 mi
Last recorded88,388 miles
Recorded on26 May 2026
Typical for 1986 Land Rover Defender124,952 mi

Below or 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

RegistrationD181 GBX
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

17 pass 4 fail
Pass 26 May 2026 88,388 miles
Pass 29 May 2025 88,250 miles

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

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

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

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Fail 21 May 2025 88,250 miles

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

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

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Pass 21 May 2024 88,081 miles
Pass 16 May 2023 87,867 miles
Pass 27 Jul 2021 87,582 miles
Pass 16 Jul 2020 87,385 miles
Pass 24 Jul 2019 87,196 miles

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

Fail 23 Jul 2019 87,194 miles

Central Front Registration plate insecure (0.1 (a))

Offside Front Windscreen wiper missing (3.4 (a))

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

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

Pass 24 Jul 2018 87,050 miles
Pass 18 Jul 2017 86,774 miles

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

Fail 18 Jul 2017 86,774 miles

Front registration plate missing (6.3.1a)

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Pass 7 Aug 2014 86,426 miles
Pass 10 Aug 2013 85,178 miles

n/s rear brale disc slight scoring

Fail 8 Aug 2013 85,177 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

n/s rear brale disc slight scoring

Pass 24 Jul 2012 85,025 miles

all brake discs corroded

oil leaks

Pass 22 Dec 2010 85,022 miles

o/s/f wing damage

oil leaks

Pass 4 Aug 2009 84,609 miles
Pass 24 Jul 2008 84,228 miles

both swivel hubs leaking

Pass 21 Jul 2007 82,477 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Pass 5 Jul 2006 80,715 miles

o/s/f indicator discoloured †slight leak both front swivel hubs †slight play o/s steering drop arm pin

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

D181 GBX is a 1986 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 81%.

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 D181 GBX, 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 D181 GBX?

You can check the full history of D181 GBX by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was D181 GBX registered?

D181 GBX is a 1986 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 13 October 1986.

Is D181 GBX safe to buy?

The MOT history for D181 GBX shows 21 tests with a 81% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does D181 GBX 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 D181 GBX. 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.