CarVerify

Free Car Check

F42 XEJ

1989 Land Rover Defender

Black Diesel 2495cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires25 Feb 2027
Tests19 (16 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate84.2%

Mileage

146,444 mi
Last recorded146,444 miles
Recorded on26 Feb 2026
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
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £14.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationF42 XEJ
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

16 pass 3 fail
Pass 26 Feb 2026 146,444 miles

Chassis has lots of surface rust

Pass 12 Feb 2025 142,909 miles
Pass 14 Feb 2024 141,079 miles
Pass 19 Dec 2018 136,276 miles
Pass 30 Mar 2017 131,520 miles

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Service brake grabbing slightly (3.7.C.2)

Pass 25 Feb 2016 129,583 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Fail 13 Feb 2016 129,554 miles

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

Front passenger door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

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

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

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Pass 11 Mar 2015 127,762 miles

both rear bump stops missing

front propshalf U/J joint has play

n/s/f tyre wearing inside edge

o/s/f bump stop missing

slight smoke from tail pipe exhaust

Fail 26 Feb 2015 127,762 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Main beam 'tell-tale' not working (1.7.4c)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

both rear bump stops missing

front brake pads low

front propshalf U/J joint has play

n/s/f tyre wearing inside edge

o/s/f bump stop missing

rear chassis rusty

slight smoke from tail pipe exhaust

Pass 18 Feb 2014 126,971 miles
Pass 19 Mar 2013 120,394 miles
Fail 19 Mar 2013 120,361 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Rear registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 26 Mar 2012 114,431 miles

Front Trailing arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 30 Mar 2011 112,034 miles
Pass 27 Mar 2010 110,060 miles

Oil leak

Pass 23 Jul 2008 109,128 miles
Pass 20 Jul 2007 107,657 miles

Oil leak

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

Pass 21 Jul 2006 106,038 miles
Pass 21 Jul 2005 104,659 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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

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

F42 XEJ is a 1989 Land Rover Defender in Black with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 84.2%.

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 F42 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 F42 XEJ?

You can check the full history of F42 XEJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was F42 XEJ registered?

F42 XEJ is a 1989 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 9 March 1989.

Is F42 XEJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for F42 XEJ shows 19 tests with a 84.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does F42 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 F42 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.