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ETS 42

1990 Land Rover Defender

Black Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 May 2027
Tests31 (22 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate71%

Mileage

70,234 mi
Last recorded70,234 miles
Recorded on29 May 2026
Typical for 1990 Land Rover Defender127,503 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationETS 42
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1990
ColourBlack
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

22 pass 9 fail
Pass 29 May 2026 70,234 miles
Pass 8 Sep 2025 68,693 miles
Pass 9 Sep 2024 66,060 miles
Pass 29 Aug 2023 63,511 miles
Pass 29 Aug 2022 59,798 miles
Pass 6 Sep 2021 54,566 miles

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

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

Rear Suspension arm ball joint has slight play a-frame ball joint (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 11 Sep 2020 48,668 miles
Pass 1 Nov 2019 41,635 miles
Pass 17 Dec 2018 35,845 miles
Pass 1 Dec 2017 31,060 miles
Pass 2 Dec 2016 205,685 miles
Pass 5 Dec 2015 203,908 miles

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

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

Steering damper slight oil seepage (2.2.C.1f)

Fail 5 Dec 2015 203,908 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the left. (1.8)

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

Offside Front Brake hose stretched (found during steering lock to lock check) (2.2.D.2b)

Offside Front Steering lock stop incorrectly adjusted (2.2.D.2c)

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

Steering damper slight oil seepage (2.2.C.1f)

Pass 10 Sep 2015 203,369 miles

Nearside front tyre has nail in

Fail 3 Sep 2015 203,367 miles

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush Nearside and offside rear (2.7.4)

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

Nearside front tyre has nail in

Pass 24 Oct 2014 202,569 miles

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

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

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

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

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

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

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Steering column universal joint has slight play (2.1.5)

Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

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

all tyres cut and perished

brake pedal rubber worn

front axle corroded

steering stiff

Pass 18 Feb 2013 197,875 miles
Fail 14 Feb 2013 197,870 miles

Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Centre Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Direction indicators flashing more than 120 times a minute (1.4.A.2g)

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

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

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

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

Offside Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

Offside Rear position lamp(s) adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

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

Rear Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Pass 23 Feb 2012 190,963 miles

Offside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

n/s rear body mount area slightly corroded

Fail 21 Feb 2012 190,957 miles

Brake pedal anti-slip provision incomplete (3.3.A.1b)

Nearside Front Radius arm rubber bush bonding deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Rear Rear position lamp(s) incorrect colour (1.1.A.3e)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

Power steering pump drive system defective (2.3.6)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Rear rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Offside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

n/s rear body mount area slightly corroded

Pass 27 Jan 2011 184,203 miles

brake pedal rubber edge worn

park brake linkage stiff/sticking

Fail 13 Jan 2011 184,203 miles

Centre Front Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Nearside Front Radius arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Steering lock stop incorrectly adjusted (2.2.D.2c)

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

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

Offside Rear Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

brake pedal rubber edge worn

park brake linkage stiff/sticking

Pass 3 Feb 2010 183,700 miles

Offside Rear Lower Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Fail 2 Feb 2010 183,700 miles

Front Lower Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe inadequately clipped (3.6.B.1)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

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

Nearside Steering lock stop incorrectly adjusted (2.2.D.2c)

Vehicle structure inadequately repaired seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.6.6)

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

Offside Rear Lower Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Pass 27 Nov 2008 172,849 miles
Fail 27 Nov 2008 172,846 miles

Front Steering damper leaking oil (2.2.C.1f)

Hazard warning tell tale not working correctly (1.4.B.1e)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Rear Exhaust mounting missing (7.1.1b)

Seat belt damaged sufficient to obstruct correct operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Pass 12 Nov 2007 164,930 miles

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

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

Fail 9 Nov 2007 164,928 miles

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

Power steering component(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

Rear Drive shaft uj which forms part of the suspension has excessive play in a universal joint (2.4.G.4b)

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

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

Pass 27 Nov 2006 159,666 miles
Pass 9 Dec 2005 155,340 miles
Fail 8 Dec 2005 155,340 miles

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

Rear Lower Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

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

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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ETS 42 is a 1990 Land Rover Defender in Black with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71%.

Across all 1990 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.7% with a typical mileage of 127,503 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 ETS 42, 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 36 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 ETS 42?

You can check the full history of ETS 42 by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was ETS 42 registered?

ETS 42 is a 1990 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 18 April 1990.

Is ETS 42 safe to buy?

The MOT history for ETS 42 shows 31 tests with a 71% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does ETS 42 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 ETS 42. 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.