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D489 RJX

1986 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires28 Jan 2026
Tests26 (17 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate65.4%

Mileage

285,832 mi
Last recorded285,832 miles
Recorded on29 Jan 2025
Typical for 1986 Land Rover Defender124,952 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationD489 RJX
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1986
ColourGreen
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 9 fail
Pass 29 Jan 2025 285,832 miles
Pass 29 Nov 2023 284,868 miles

Nearside Front hub seal slight leak

Offside Front hub seal slight leak

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

VEHICLE UNDERSEALED

Pass 29 Nov 2022 277,000 miles
Pass 24 Nov 2021 271,791 miles
Pass 27 Nov 2020 263,835 miles
Pass 12 Nov 2019 254,137 miles
Pass 6 Dec 2018 252,883 miles

Nearside Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Obligatory mirror slightly damaged (3.3 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Stop lamp(s) lens defective which has no effect on emitted light (4.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Fail 6 Dec 2018 252,878 miles

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

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Nearside Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Obligatory mirror slightly damaged (3.3 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Stop lamp(s) lens defective which has no effect on emitted light (4.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Fail 9 Nov 2018 252,864 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Nearside Front Oil leaking continuously from transmission posing a serious risk to road safety half shaft seal van leak on to breaking system (8.4.1 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Steering box slight play between sector shaft and the drop arm (2.1.3 (a) (ii))

allover corrosion

Pass 14 Aug 2017 252,649 miles

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

Nearside mirror glass cracked

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

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

exhaust system corroded

off road tyres fitted

Pass 10 Sep 2016 251,643 miles
Fail 9 Sep 2016 251,643 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 24 Aug 2015 249,753 miles

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 11 Jul 2014 245,420 miles

slight oil leaks from front swivel hubs

Fail 10 Jul 2014 245,416 miles

Brake pedal spongy (3.3.B.1b)

Nearside Front Braking system leaking (3.6.A.1)

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

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

slight oil leaks from front swivel hubs

Pass 20 Jan 2012 243,538 miles
Fail 19 Jan 2012 243,530 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users (1.8.A.1a)

Nearside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

Offside Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users (1.8.A.1a)

Offside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

Fail 13 Jan 2012 243,521 miles

Brake hydraulic reservoir fluid level below minimum level (3.6.G.1b)

Centre Stop lamp insecure (1.2.1a)

Centre Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Hazard warning switch faulty (1.4.B.1d)

Nearside Front Hazard warning lamps inoperative (1.4.B.1b)

Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Nearside Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear Hazard warning lamps inoperative (1.4.B.1b)

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

Offside Front Hazard warning lamps inoperative (1.4.B.1b)

Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Offside Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Hazard warning lamps inoperative (1.4.B.1b)

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Rear fog lamp obscured more than 50% (1.3.2c)

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

Offside Front brake caliper leaking (3.6.A.1) DANGEROUS

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.C.1a)

Pass 29 Nov 2010 238,008 miles

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

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

Pass 20 Nov 2009 228,343 miles

Metal brake pipe to o/s/f hose is rusty

Fail 19 Nov 2009 228,341 miles

Offside Rear fog lamp obscured more than 50% (1.3.2c)

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

Nearside Track rod end loose (2.2.B.1d)

Offside Intermediate drop arm insecure (2.2.B.1a)

Metal brake pipe to o/s/f hose is rusty

Pass 19 Sep 2008 227,926 miles

Corrosion front of n/s floor

Metal brake pipes to front hoses are rusty

Play front prop u/j

Fail 15 Sep 2008 227,926 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Lower Steering column universal joint has excessive play (2.1.5)

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Offside Drag link end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Brake master cylinder/servo mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (3.6.C.3)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Corrosion front of n/s floor

Metal brake pipes to front hoses are rusty

Play front prop u/j

Pass 22 Aug 2007 226,962 miles

Metal brake pipes to front hoses are rusty

Steering drop arm joint boot is split

Pass 17 Aug 2006 202,499 miles

corrosion rear chassis

Fail 16 Aug 2006 220,497 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Rear reflector missing (1.5.1a)

Service brake is causing the vehicle to swerve to the nearside (3.7.C.2)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1a)

Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

o/s/f hub weeping †corrosion rear chassis

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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D489 RJX is a 1986 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65.4%.

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 D489 RJX, 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 D489 RJX?

You can check the full history of D489 RJX by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was D489 RJX registered?

D489 RJX is a 1986 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 1 August 1986.

Is D489 RJX safe to buy?

The MOT history for D489 RJX shows 26 tests with a 65.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does D489 RJX 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 D489 RJX. 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.