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F26 XEJ

1989 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires20 Nov 2026
Tests25 (18 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate72%

Mileage

157,708 mi
Last recorded157,708 miles
Recorded on21 Nov 2025
Typical for 1989 Land Rover Defender127,912 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationF26 XEJ
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1989
ColourGreen
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

18 pass 7 fail
Pass 21 Nov 2025 157,708 miles
Pass 27 Jun 2022 154,711 miles

Driver's door catch deteriorated so the door cannot be readily opened or closed (6.2.3 (c) (i))

Indicator tell-tale inoperative (4.9.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front brake hose fouling part of suspension

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

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

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

Fail 10 Jun 2022 154,706 miles

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

Brake performance not tested Due to insecure prop shaft (1.2.1 (g))

Emissions not tested Fuel leaks (8.2.2.2 (e))

Fluid leak harmful to the environment or a risk to other road users At fuel tank (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fluid leak harmful to the environment or a risk to other road users Engine fuel leak (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Front passenger door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

Front passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

Fuel pipe leaking Engine bay (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Fuel tank leaking (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Hydraulic brake cylinder operating mechanism has excessive travel (1.1.16 (e) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) contaminated (1.1.13 (b))

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

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

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

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

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

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

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

Rear Prop shaft likely to become detached (6.1.7 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Coolant leak ()

Driver's door catch deteriorated so the door cannot be readily opened or closed (6.2.3 (c) (i))

Hazard warning tell-tale inoperative (4.9.1 (a) (i))

Indicator tell-tale inoperative (4.9.1 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Offside Front Brake hose fouls suspension

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

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

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

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

Pass 10 Jun 2021 154,107 miles

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

Nearside Front Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn In hub (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 9 Jun 2021 154,107 miles

Exhaust emissions exceed level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine (8.2.2.2 (b))

Nearside Front Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (5.2.3 (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (5.2.3 (i))

Offside Front Suspension component pin or bush excessively worn In hub (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (5.2.3 (i))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (5.2.3 (i))

Offside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Steering locking device ineffective Drop arm to steering box nut (2.1.3 (d))

Steering locking device missing Drop arm ball joint (2.1.3 (d))

Front Prop shaft likely to become detached (6.1.7 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Nearside Front Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn In hub (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Outer Tyre slightly damaged Side wall (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 25 Sep 2020 153,661 miles
Pass 5 Oct 2019 152,922 miles

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

o/s/f body mounting area has corrosion

Pass 29 Sep 2018 150,488 miles

Central Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Service brake requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair (1.2.1 (c))

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

Pass 30 Sep 2017 146,879 miles

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

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

slight spongyness to brake pedal

Pass 1 Oct 2016 141,387 miles
Pass 19 Sep 2015 140,300 miles
Pass 4 Jun 2014 137,203 miles

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

osf nsf swivel housing seals slight leak

steering box drop arm ball joint slight play

Pass 12 Jun 2013 133,283 miles

Nearside Rear Radius arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Radius arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 29 May 2013 133,283 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Nearside front brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Offside Ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Front Vehicle structure has an unsatisfactory modification, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

Nearside Rear Radius arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Radius arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 11 Jun 2012 130,124 miles
Fail 17 May 2012 130,043 miles

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

Lower Steering pivot point has excessive play (2.2.B.1g)

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

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

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

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

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

Pass 26 May 2011 127,782 miles

rear propshaft uj,s worn

Fail 24 May 2011 127,782 miles

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

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

rear propshaft uj,s worn

Pass 27 May 2010 123,780 miles

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

Fail 26 May 2010 123,780 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

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

Nearside Front brake disc contaminated by grease (3.5.1h)

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

Pass 29 May 2009 119,373 miles

slight play in rear propshaft uj

Fail 26 May 2009 119,373 miles

Front Steering pivot point has excessive play (2.2.B.1g)

Nearside Front Panhard rod has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

slight play in rear propshaft uj

Pass 16 May 2008 118,530 miles
Pass 24 May 2007 114,060 miles
Pass 25 May 2006 106,104 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.

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F26 XEJ is a 1989 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72%.

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 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 F26 XEJ, 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 F26 XEJ?

You can check the full history of F26 XEJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was F26 XEJ registered?

F26 XEJ is a 1989 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 11 April 1989.

Is F26 XEJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for F26 XEJ shows 25 tests with a 72% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does F26 XEJ 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 F26 XEJ. 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.