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D8 RFD

1998 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires27 Feb 2026
Tests29 (20 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate69%

Mileage

227,634 mi
Last recorded227,634 miles
Recorded on28 Feb 2025
Typical for 1998 Land Rover Defender110,057 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationD8 RFD
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1998
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

20 pass 9 fail
Pass 28 Feb 2025 227,634 miles

Coil spring corroded All four. (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

Offside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Fail 28 Feb 2025 227,634 miles

Coil spring corroded All four. (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

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

Offside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 9 Feb 2024 225,509 miles

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

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

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

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

Fail 7 Feb 2024 225,506 miles

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

Offside Front Drag link end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Passenger's seat insecure (6.2.6 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Intermediate drop arm likely to become detached (2.1.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Central Rear Suspension component ball joint has slight play A frame ball joint (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

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

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

Pass 20 Feb 2023 220,784 miles

Front Fluid leak, but not excessive Steering box (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

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

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

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

Rear Suspension component ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated A frame balljoint (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Fail 15 Feb 2023 220,784 miles

Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Drag link end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Front Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Near shock mounting (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Towbar component excessively corroded Supporting arm corroded (6.1.6 (a))

Offside Front Drag link end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

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

Front Fluid leak, but not excessive Steering box (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

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

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

Offside Rear Towbar component corroded, but not excessively Supporting arm corroded (6.1.6 (a))

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

Rear Suspension component ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated A frame balljoint (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 28 Feb 2022 218,899 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Fail 28 Feb 2022 218,897 miles

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt drop arm (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside strg damper bush

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

Pass 17 Mar 2021 216,708 miles

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

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

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

Speedometer not sufficiently illuminated (7.8 (c) (i))

steering damper bush slight play

Fail 15 Mar 2021 216,705 miles

Emissions not tested (8.2.2.2 (e))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength top shocker mounting (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced gearbox mounting (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Offside Headlamp aim too far to the right (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength shocker top mounting (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

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

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

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

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

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

Speedometer not sufficiently illuminated (7.8 (c) (i))

steering damper bush slight play

Pass 20 Mar 2020 214,353 miles
Fail 16 Mar 2020 214,342 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn radius arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn radius arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt drop arm (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Pass 22 Mar 2019 208,144 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement radius arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement radius arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 22 Mar 2019 208,144 miles

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement radius arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement radius arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 9 Mar 2018 204,579 miles

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

Steering box drop arm slight play

Fail 9 Mar 2018 204,579 miles

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

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

Steering box drop arm slight play

Pass 30 Mar 2017 202,445 miles

Brake pipe slightly corroded front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

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

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

Fail 22 Mar 2017 202,445 miles

Nearside Front Radius arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Coil spring not correctly located (2.4.C.2)

Nearside Rear Radius arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded around radius arm front mounting (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded top of chassis near cross member (2.4.A.3)

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

Offside Ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt drop arm (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded radius arm front mounting (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear reflector missing (1.5.1a)

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

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

Vehicle structure excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.6.6)

Brake pipe slightly corroded front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

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

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

Pass 11 Mar 2016 193,684 miles
Pass 20 Mar 2015 186,763 miles
Pass 26 Mar 2014 181,059 miles
Pass 13 Mar 2013 175,199 miles
Pass 7 Mar 2012 166,400 miles
Pass 3 Mar 2011 156,922 miles
Pass 5 Mar 2010 146,008 miles
Pass 19 Feb 2009 133,748 miles
Pass 7 Feb 2008 121,182 miles
Pass 9 Feb 2007 109,918 miles
Pass 10 Feb 2006 94,636 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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D8 RFD is a 1998 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 69%.

Across all 1998 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.3% with a typical mileage of 110,057 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 D8 RFD, 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 28 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 D8 RFD?

You can check the full history of D8 RFD by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was D8 RFD registered?

D8 RFD is a 1998 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 4 March 1998.

Is D8 RFD safe to buy?

The MOT history for D8 RFD 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 D8 RFD 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 D8 RFD. 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.