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F117 RSE

1989 Land Rover Defender

Black Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires30 Aug 2027
Tests32 (20 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate62.5%

Mileage

195,465 mi
Last recorded195,465 miles
Recorded on7 Aug 2026
Typical for 1989 Land Rover Defender127,912 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationF117 RSE
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1989
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

20 pass 12 fail
Pass 7 Aug 2026 195,465 miles

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

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

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

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

general corrosion to underside and chassis

Fail 4 Aug 2026 195,450 miles

Brake pedal has insufficient reserve travel (1.1.2 (a))

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

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

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

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

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

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

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

general corrosion to underside and chassis

Pass 19 Aug 2025 189,377 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases centre and rear (6.1.2 (a))

Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed n/s and o/s (7.1.2 (b))

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

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

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

exhaust tailpipe corroded/holed

o/s/f lower bulkhead corroded

Pass 9 Aug 2024 183,883 miles

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

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

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

both bulkhead footwells corroded

o/s of bulk head corroded

o/s/f chassis corroded

o/s/r bump stop support plate corroded

slight weapage from n/s/f axle swivel seal

some corrosion to o/s/r spring chassis/platform

Pass 23 Aug 2023 176,904 miles

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

Offside Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

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

both front radius rod rear bushes splitting

both rear radius rod front bushes cracking

exhaust silencer support rubber split

fuel tank exterior damp

indicator dash tell tale illumination dim

little reserve travel to handbrake lever

o/s bulkhead panel footwell corroded

oil leak/misting n/s/f outer hub flange

slight weepage n/s/f axle swivel housing

steering coloum switch gear insecure

Fail 22 Aug 2023 176,902 miles

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

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

Offside Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

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

both front radius rod rear bushes splitting

both rear radius rod front bushes cracking

exhaust silencer support rubber split

fuel tank exterior damp

little reserve travel to handbrake lever

o/s bulkhead panel footwell corroded

oil leak/misting n/s/f outer hub flange

slight weepage n/s/f axle swivel housing

steering coloum switch gear insecure

Pass 31 Aug 2022 172,071 miles

Central Integral body structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security heavy corrosion near battery tray , and passenger side bulkhead (exposed by carpet) (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Pass 26 Jul 2021 168,389 miles
Pass 11 Jun 2020 165,018 miles

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

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

Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 12 Jun 2019 164,306 miles

Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour but not likely to obscure the vision of other road users (8.2.2.2 (c))

Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Fail 10 Jun 2019 164,294 miles

Hazard warning switch inoperative (4.4.2 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded two holes in chassis (2.1.2 (e) (i))

Parking brake lever has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustment (1.1.6 (c))

Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour but not likely to obscure the vision of other road users (8.2.2.2 (c))

Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 27 Jun 2018 163,596 miles
Fail 18 Jun 2018 163,584 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

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

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

Rear fog lamp switch inoperative (4.5.3 (a) (ii))

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

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 15 Aug 2017 163,077 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Fail 10 Aug 2017 163,064 miles

Bonnet retaining device ineffective (8.4.2)

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 28 Jun 2016 161,982 miles
Fail 28 Jun 2016 161,982 miles

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

Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Pass 25 Nov 2014 161,908 miles
Fail 10 Nov 2014 161,883 miles

Offside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

Gearbox mounting defective

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

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

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

Oil leak

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

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

offside front road wheel corroded

Pass 25 Oct 2013 161,152 miles

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

vehicle has light corrosion on all suspension mountings

Fail 16 Oct 2013 161,151 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Hazard warning lamps inoperative (1.4.B.1b)

Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Offside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

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

vehicle has light corrosion on all suspension mountings

Pass 19 Sep 2012 158,371 miles

Oil leak

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

both front axle hubs have slight seepage of oil

front number plate damaged but secure and unlikely to be miss-read

Fail 13 Sep 2012 158,333 miles

Intermediate drop arm insecure (2.2.B.1a)

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

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Oil leak

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

both front axle hubs have slight seepage of oil

both rear tyres cracking

front number plate damaged but secure and unlikely to be miss-read

Pass 8 Nov 2011 156,258 miles

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

Oil leak

front axle has slight seapage of oil

front number plate deteriorated but readable at 20 mtrs

Fail 15 Sep 2010 153,688 miles

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

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) leaking from a joint (2.3.3b)

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

front number plate damaged but secure and readable at 20 mtrs

Pass 15 Sep 2010 153,688 miles

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

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

front number plate damaged but secure and readable at 20 mtrs

Pass 11 Sep 2009 145,860 miles

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

Pass 26 Aug 2008 140,887 miles

Offside Outer Front Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Fail 26 Aug 2008 140,887 miles

Offside Outer Front Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 6 Aug 2007 135,336 miles

Oil leak

Pass 11 Aug 2006 128,750 miles
Fail 10 Aug 2006 128,750 miles

Nearside Rear Service brake application uneven across the axle (3.7.D.2b)

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering (6.1.A.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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F117 RSE is a 1989 Land Rover Defender in Black with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 32 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 62.5%.

Across all 1989 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.8% with a typical mileage of 127,912 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 F117 RSE, 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 37 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 F117 RSE?

You can check the full history of F117 RSE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was F117 RSE registered?

F117 RSE is a 1989 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 6 February 1989.

Is F117 RSE safe to buy?

The MOT history for F117 RSE shows 32 tests with a 62.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does F117 RSE 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 F117 RSE. 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.