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F439 XEJ

1989 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires14 Oct 2026
Tests23 (13 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate56.5%

Mileage

172,302 mi
Last recorded172,302 miles
Recorded on15 Oct 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

RegistrationF439 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

13 pass 10 fail
Pass 15 Oct 2025 172,302 miles
Pass 17 Mar 2025 172,137 miles

Nearside Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b))

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

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

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

Suspension component mounting repair covered in underseal (5.3.6 (a) (i))

areas of general corrosion

some play in steering linkages

Fail 17 Mar 2025 172,137 miles

Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing (1.1.2 (c))

Front Registration plate missing (0.1 (a))

Horn sound not in accordance with requirements (7.7 (c))

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

Nearside Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b))

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

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

Suspension component mounting repair covered in underseal (5.3.6 (a) (i))

areas of general corrosion

some play in steering linkages

Pass 5 Jul 2023 172,137 miles

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

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

areas of general corrosion

some play in steering linkages

Fail 5 Jul 2023 172,137 miles

Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing (1.1.2 (c))

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

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

areas of general corrosion

some play in steering linkages

Pass 24 Mar 2022 171,378 miles

general corrosion

Pass 23 Apr 2021 171,170 miles

Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

Pass 13 Nov 2014 168,346 miles
Pass 30 Aug 2013 162,060 miles
Fail 28 Aug 2013 162,019 miles

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

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Nearside Rear Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Oil leak

Pass 8 Nov 2012 158,871 miles

Prop-shaft universal joint worn

coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

offside and nearside front footwell corroded and holed but not within 30cm of major components

rear universal joint on prop shaft dangerous

Fail 6 Nov 2012 158,871 miles

Driver's door does not latch securely closed (6.2.B.1a)

Nearside Rear Lower Coil spring mounting corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.C.3c)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Lower Coil spring mounting corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.C.3c)

Offside Rear Upper Coil spring mounting corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.C.3c)

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

Prop-shaft universal joint worn

coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

offside and nearside front footwell corroded and holed but not within 30cm of major components

rear universal joint on prop shaft dangerous

Pass 8 Sep 2010 157,423 miles

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

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

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

Fail 7 Sep 2010 157,423 miles

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

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

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

Offside Front Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Parking brake lever is impeded in its travel (3.1.6c)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1b)

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

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

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

Pass 17 Jul 2009 157,216 miles
Fail 7 Jul 2009 157,208 miles

Emissions not tested (7.0)

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

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Nearside Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.2.C.1h)

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

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

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

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

Position lamp switch faulty (1.1.A.1)

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

48% imbalance on rear brakes

emmissions not tested due to missing rear exhaust section

Pass 7 May 2008 156,692 miles

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly damaged (4.2.A.1a)

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

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

no seat belts fitted in rear

Fail 2 May 2008 156,689 miles

Nearside Front Radius arm locating pin insecure (2.4.G.3a)

Offside Rear brake drum contaminated by oil (3.5.1h)

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

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

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly damaged (4.2.A.1a)

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

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

no seat belts fitted in rear

Pass 10 May 2007 151,616 miles
Fail 9 May 2007 151,612 miles

Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour of any colour (7.4.B.4)

Nearside Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Rear Braking system leaking (3.6.A.1)

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.6.1)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1b)

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

rear brakes grabbing slight corrosion all brake pipes

Pass 9 May 2006 148,030 miles
Fail 8 May 2006 148,030 miles

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)

Fail 10 Apr 2006 148,025 miles

Nearside Front Axle swivel joint has excessive play (2.5.A.3b)

Nearside Front passenger door does not latch securely closed (6.2.B.1a)

Nearside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated (8.2.2)

Offside Front Upper Axle swivel joint has excessive play in a swivel pin (2.5.A.3b)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

Offside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated (8.2.2)

Power steering component(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

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

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Steering column flexible coupling has excessive play (2.1.5)

battery box corroded

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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F439 XEJ is a 1989 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 56.5%.

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 F439 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 F439 XEJ?

You can check the full history of F439 XEJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was F439 XEJ registered?

F439 XEJ is a 1989 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 31 December 1989.

Is F439 XEJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for F439 XEJ shows 23 tests with a 56.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does F439 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 F439 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.