CarVerify

Free Car Check

D31 GFL

1986 Land Rover Defender

Grey Diesel 2496cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires24 Apr 2026
Tests18 (11 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate61.1%

Mileage

232,894 mi
Last recorded232,894 miles
Recorded on8 Apr 2025
Typical for 1986 Land Rover Defender124,952 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationD31 GFL
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1986
ColourGrey
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,496cc

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

11 pass 7 fail
Pass 8 Apr 2025 232,894 miles

Parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Fail 4 Apr 2025 232,894 miles

Battery insecure and likely to fall from carrier (4.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has excessive play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Front Wheel bearing has excessive play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Pass 25 Apr 2024 224,002 miles
Fail 11 Apr 2024 224,002 miles

Oil leaking excessively from engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Front Brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing so rough it is likely to overheat or break up (5.1.3 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Pass 29 Mar 2023 214,469 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

Fail 8 Mar 2023 214,467 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases Center and rear exhaust (6.1.2 (a))

Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.1.2 (e) (i))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has excessive play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Front All position lamps light intensity significantly reduced (4.2.3 (a) (ii))

Rear Exhaust emissions likely to be affected by an exhaust leak (8.2.1.1 (b))

Front Steering box drop arm likely to become detached (2.1.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Axle swivel joint insecure in a stub axle (5.1.2 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 4 Feb 2022 208,241 miles
Fail 20 Jan 2022 208,238 miles

Nearside Front Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced Bulkhead (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Steering box leaking to the extent that oil is dripping (2.1.1 (e) (ii))

Windscreen wiper not working (3.4 (a))

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

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

Pass 21 Jan 2021 201,669 miles

Steering box leaking oil (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Fail 13 Jan 2021 201,669 miles

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Side repeater missing Side repeater x2 not fitted (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Hazard warning lamps inoperative (4.4.1 (e))

Nearside Rear Rear reflector missing (4.8.2 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Oil leaking excessively from engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Rear fog lamp tell-tale missing (4.9.1 (a) (ii))

Steering box leaking oil (2.1.1 (e) (i))

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

Pass 27 Mar 2019 188,625 miles
Fail 8 Mar 2019 188,625 miles

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has excessive play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

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

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

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

Pass 27 Apr 2018 185,815 miles
Fail 27 Apr 2018 185,814 miles

Front passenger door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle or outside (6.2.B.1b)

Nearside Drag link end ball joint has excessive play securing nut loose (2.2.B.1f)

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) incorrect colour (1.1.A.3e)

Offside Rear position lamp(s) incorrect colour (1.1.A.3e)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Pass 21 Feb 2017 183,034 miles
Pass 8 Dec 2015 180,039 miles
Pass 13 Dec 2012 180,012 miles
Pass 8 Oct 2011 175,743 miles

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

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

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

D31 GFL is a 1986 Land Rover Defender in Grey with a 2,496cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 61.1%.

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 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 D31 GFL, 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 D31 GFL?

You can check the full history of D31 GFL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was D31 GFL registered?

D31 GFL is a 1986 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 31 December 1986.

Is D31 GFL safe to buy?

The MOT history for D31 GFL shows 18 tests with a 61.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does D31 GFL 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 D31 GFL. 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.