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E3 LRD

1997 Land Rover Defender

Beige Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires8 Sep 2026
Tests29 (20 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate69%

Mileage

199,919 mi
Last recorded199,919 miles
Recorded on9 Sep 2025
Typical for 1997 Land Rover Defender117,879 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Finance
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationE3 LRD
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1997
ColourBeige
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 9 Sep 2025 199,919 miles

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

Pass 4 Sep 2024 199,010 miles

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

Pass 1 Sep 2023 197,747 miles

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

Pass 19 Aug 2022 196,916 miles

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

Pass 18 Aug 2021 195,983 miles
Pass 6 Jul 2020 195,199 miles

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

Pass 1 Aug 2019 192,758 miles

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

Wheel bearing has slight play both front (5.1.3 (a) (i))

front hub seal leaking slightly

Fail 1 Aug 2019 192,758 miles

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

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

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

Offside Drag link end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

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

Wheel bearing has slight play both front (5.1.3 (a) (i))

front hub seal leaking slightly

Pass 24 Jul 2018 191,873 miles

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

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

both front driveshaft seals slight oil leak

Fail 23 Jul 2018 191,873 miles

Brake master cylinder/servo mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (1.1.21 (e) (i))

Central Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

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

both front driveshaft seals slight oil leak

Pass 17 Jul 2017 191,121 miles

both front hub units slightly weeping oil

Fail 17 Jul 2017 191,121 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

both front hub units slightly weeping oil

Pass 23 Jun 2016 190,910 miles

Front Both front tractor joint seals leaking

Pass 30 Jun 2015 190,236 miles

front hubs seals leaking oil

Fail 30 Jun 2015 190,236 miles

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

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

front hubs seals leaking oil

Pass 19 Jun 2014 189,264 miles

front hubs leaking oil

nearside rear bumpstop missing

Fail 19 Jun 2014 189,264 miles

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

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Parking brake is not capable of being maintained in operation by direct mechanical action only (3.1.2)

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

front hubs leaking oil

nearside rear bumpstop missing

Pass 3 Sep 2013 188,364 miles
Pass 22 Aug 2012 186,820 miles
Fail 13 Aug 2012 186,811 miles

Nearside Front Steering system fouling (2.2.D.2a)

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

Offside Front Power steering component(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

Offside Front Steering system fouling (2.2.D.2a)

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

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

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

rear exhaust pipe split & corroded

Pass 8 Nov 2011 183,820 miles
Pass 10 Jun 2011 183,338 miles

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

front hubs damp

slight play drop arm ball joint

steering box damp

undersealed

Fail 8 Jun 2011 183,325 miles

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

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

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

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

front hubs damp

slight play drop arm ball joint

steering box damp

undersealed

Pass 26 May 2010 181,229 miles

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

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

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

chassis surface rust

Pass 3 Jun 2009 179,217 miles

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

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Fail 2 Jun 2009 179,217 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Front Steering system has a tyre fouling a part of the vehicle (2.2.D.2a)

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive damage seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a towbar mounting (6.6.6)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Steering system has a tyre fouling a part of the vehicle (2.2.D.2a)

Offside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive damage seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a towbar mounting (6.6.6)

Offside Front Track rod end loose (2.2.B.1d) DANGEROUS

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

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 18 Jan 2007 166,198 miles

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

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

drop arm ball joint rubber split

p.a.s box has slight oil leak

rear exhaust mounting insecure

Fail 16 Jan 2007 166,198 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Registration plate lamp not illuminating the registration plate (1.1.C.1e)

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

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

drop arm ball joint rubber split

p.a.s box has slight oil leak

rear exhaust mounting insecure

Pass 18 Jan 2006 155,360 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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E3 LRD is a 1997 Land Rover Defender in Beige with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 69%.

Across all 1997 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.5% with a typical mileage of 117,879 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 E3 LRD, 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 29 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 E3 LRD?

You can check the full history of E3 LRD by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E3 LRD registered?

E3 LRD is a 1997 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 15 December 1997.

Is E3 LRD safe to buy?

The MOT history for E3 LRD 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 E3 LRD 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 E3 LRD. 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.