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D978 FBX

1986 Land Rover Defender

Grey Diesel 2496cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires18 Dec 2026
Tests27 (20 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate74.1%

Mileage

73,816 mi
Last recorded73,816 miles
Recorded on17 Dec 2025
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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationD978 FBX
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

20 pass 7 fail
Pass 17 Dec 2025 73,816 miles
Pass 19 Dec 2024 73,781 miles
Pass 18 Dec 2023 73,319 miles
Fail 18 Dec 2023 73,319 miles

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

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

Pass 8 Dec 2022 72,974 miles
Pass 9 Dec 2021 72,719 miles
Pass 4 Dec 2020 71,810 miles
Pass 5 Dec 2019 71,108 miles
Fail 4 Dec 2019 71,108 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 27 Nov 2018 70,387 miles

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

Fail 27 Nov 2018 70,387 miles

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 7 Oct 2017 69,297 miles

Oil leak ()

Fail 2 Oct 2017 69,272 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Oil leak ()

Pass 23 Sep 2016 69,279 miles

slight corrosion on body underneath

Fail 22 Sep 2016 69,259 miles

Nearside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Power steering component(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

slight corrosion on body underneath

Pass 14 Jul 2015 68,437 miles
Pass 16 Jul 2014 67,987 miles

slight corrosion underneath

Pass 19 Jul 2013 67,297 miles

Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Pass 21 Nov 2012 66,765 miles

Nearside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Pass 7 Sep 2011 65,377 miles

Nearside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Pass 11 Aug 2010 62,899 miles

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

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Fail 25 Aug 2009 60,657 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 25 Aug 2009 60,657 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Pass 8 Aug 2008 59,688 miles

Nearside Headlamp not in good working order but not adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Offside Headlamp not in good working order but not adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Pass 19 Mar 2007 58,572 miles
Pass 4 Mar 2006 57,457 miles
Fail 21 Feb 2006 57,445 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

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

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

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

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

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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D978 FBX is a 1986 Land Rover Defender in Grey with a 2,496cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 74.1%.

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 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 D978 FBX, 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 D978 FBX?

You can check the full history of D978 FBX by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was D978 FBX registered?

D978 FBX is a 1986 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 26 September 1986.

Is D978 FBX safe to buy?

The MOT history for D978 FBX shows 27 tests with a 74.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does D978 FBX 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 D978 FBX. 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.