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E285 ODE

1998 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2496cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires18 Jun 2027
Tests30 (18 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate60%

Mileage

169,343 mi
Last recorded169,343 miles
Recorded on19 Jun 2026
Typical for 1998 Land Rover Defender110,057 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationE285 ODE
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1998
ColourGreen
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

18 pass 12 fail
Pass 19 Jun 2026 169,343 miles
Fail 12 Jun 2026 169,335 miles

Exhaust emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit (8.2.2.2 (a))

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle (5.2.3 (f))

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

Offside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle (5.2.3 (f))

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

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

Rear fog lamp missing (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

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

Steering linkage insecure to the extent there is excessive movement at the mountings (2.1.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 11 Dec 2024 168,094 miles

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component power steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Fail 4 Dec 2024 168,093 miles

Driver's door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

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

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

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

Windscreen wiper not working (3.4 (a))

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

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component power steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 16 Nov 2023 168,089 miles

Front Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively Front prop rear UJ (6.1.7 (c) (i))

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

Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Rear section and rear crossmember (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Fail 16 Nov 2023 168,089 miles

Front Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively Front prop rear UJ (6.1.7 (c) (i))

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

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

Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Rear section and rear crossmember (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 15 Sep 2022 164,848 miles

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing slightly noisy and has slight play (5.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Oil leak, but not excessive slight oil leaks from engine,gearbox and both diffs (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Pass 26 Jul 2021 159,650 miles
Fail 20 Jul 2021 159,589 miles

Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Headlamp insecure (4.1.1 (c))

Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Pass 14 Aug 2020 156,793 miles

Floor not fully secure (6.2.4 (a) (i))

Rear Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

Upper Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.2.2 (b))

oil leaks

Fail 10 Aug 2020 156,775 miles

Nearside Seat belt of the wrong type (7.1.2 (c))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe leaking on a hydraulic braking system (1.1.11 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Service brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.2.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Floor not fully secure (6.2.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Rear Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

Upper Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.2.2 (b))

oil leaks

Pass 12 Jul 2019 153,150 miles

Offside Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

Fail 11 Jul 2019 153,146 miles

Rear Prop shaft joint so worn it is likely to fail (6.1.7 (c) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

Fail 12 Feb 2019 153,112 miles

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

Nearside Seat belt damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

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

Offside Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

Pass 23 Feb 2018 149,915 miles

Nearside Front brake pipe becoming corroded

Offside Front brake pipe becoming corroded

both front wiper blades slightly split

both rear shock absorber bushes worn

engine has slight oil leak

front number plate cracked slightly

gearbox has slight oil leak

rear underside of vehicle generally corroded

rear window glass cracked

Fail 9 Feb 2018 149,794 miles

Driver's door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

Fuel system component leaking fuel pump area (7.2.3)

Nearside Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded chassis (2.2.C.1h)

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

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

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Nearside Front brake pipe becoming corroded

Offside Front brake pipe becoming corroded

both front wiper blades slightly split

both rear shock absorber bushes worn

engine has slight oil leak

front number plate cracked slightly

gearbox has slight oil leak

rear underside of vehicle generally corroded

rear window glass cracked

Pass 14 Feb 2017 146,920 miles

both front brake pipes becoming corroded

both front swivel joint damp (possible leaking slightly)

chassis becoming generally corroded

front prop shaft u.j both badly worn

slight play in steering column u.j

Fail 1 Feb 2017 146,691 miles

Battery insecure battery tray excessively corroded (1.9.1)

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded chassis rear trailing arm mounting point (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded chassis front trailing arm mounting point (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded chassis rear trailing arm mounting point (2.4.A.3)

both front brake pipes becoming corroded

both front swivel joint damp (possible leaking slightly)

chassis becoming generally corroded

front prop shaft u.j both badly worn

slight play in steering column u.j

Pass 2 Feb 2016 142,367 miles

both front brake pipes becoming corroded

both front tractor joints damp/possible slight leak

front prop shaft,front u.j worn

n.s rear indicator lens cracked

steering column u.j has slight play

Pass 27 Jan 2015 136,875 miles

both front tractor joint seals damp

both n.s track rod ends, boots becoming perrished

o.s front floor becoming corroded

o.s wiper slightly split

rear brake pads getting low

rear trailing arms to diff,ball joint boot slightly split

Pass 29 Jan 2014 132,722 miles

P.A.S damp at resevior

bot front suspension tractor joints damp/slightly leaking

slight diesel leak around fuel pump area

Pass 29 Jan 2013 128,916 miles

n.s rear chassis out rigger becoming corroded

rear exhaust becoming corroded

Pass 1 Feb 2012 124,156 miles
Fail 26 Jan 2012 124,117 miles

Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Centre Windscreen has damage to the swept area in excess of a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Front registration plate obscured (6.3.1d)

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged sufficient to significantly weakened the webbing (5.2.2a)

Offside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the right. (1.8)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

alternator and belt insecure.

bonnet safety catch missing.

oil leak poss oil cooler pipes.

Pass 31 Jan 2011 117,972 miles
Pass 10 Apr 2008 117,537 miles
Fail 8 Apr 2008 117,516 miles

Direction indicators not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Oil leak

advise n/s/r tyre side wall perished

Pass 7 Nov 2007 117,502 miles

Offside Front Upper Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Fail 20 Sep 2007 117,490 miles

Nearside Rear rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Coil spring mounting corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.C.3c)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Power steering malfunctioning (2.3.3a)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 17 Aug 2006 116,359 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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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

E285 ODE is a 1998 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,496cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 30 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60%.

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 E285 ODE, 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 E285 ODE?

You can check the full history of E285 ODE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E285 ODE registered?

E285 ODE is a 1998 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 16 June 1998.

Is E285 ODE safe to buy?

The MOT history for E285 ODE shows 30 tests with a 60% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does E285 ODE 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 E285 ODE. 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.