CarVerify

Free Car Check

F482 SMO

1989 Land Rover Defender

Orange Petrol 3528cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires22 Dec 2026
Tests23 (20 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate87%

Mileage

227,076 mi
Last recorded227,076 miles
Recorded on17 Dec 2025
Typical for 1989 Land Rover Defender127,912 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationF482 SMO
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1989
ColourOrange
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,528cc

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 3 fail
Pass 17 Dec 2025 227,076 miles
Pass 16 Dec 2024 226,730 miles
Pass 14 Dec 2023 226,523 miles

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

Some surface corrosion forming on underside and chassis members.

Pass 16 Dec 2022 226,080 miles
Fail 16 Dec 2022 226,080 miles

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

Pass 15 Dec 2021 225,880 miles
Pass 23 Dec 2020 225,378 miles

Rear A frame ball joint rubber deteriorated.

Pass 19 Dec 2019 224,751 miles
Pass 14 Dec 2018 223,339 miles
Pass 16 Dec 2017 221,562 miles
Pass 16 Dec 2016 214,587 miles

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

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

Pass 21 Dec 2015 207,265 miles
Pass 22 Dec 2014 200,862 miles
Pass 16 Dec 2013 193,048 miles
Pass 21 Dec 2012 185,926 miles
Fail 19 Dec 2012 185,922 miles

Offside Rear fog lamp missing (1.3.2a)

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

Nearside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Pass 19 Dec 2011 179,873 miles

Nearside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Rear reflector faded in colour (1.5.1d)

Offside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Rear reflector faded in colour (1.5.1d)

Pass 20 Dec 2010 174,322 miles
Pass 22 Dec 2009 169,098 miles
Pass 11 Dec 2008 164,641 miles

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

gas converted, cert number 31393

slight play in front prop shaft

suspension modified

Fail 11 Dec 2008 164,637 miles

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (7.3.B.1b)

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

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

gas converted, cert number 31393

slight play in front prop shaft

suspension modified

Pass 17 Dec 2007 160,328 miles

Parking brake lever ratchet mechanism is slightly worn (3.1.5)

horn weak

n/s wiper needs adjusting

Pass 21 Nov 2006 151,047 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

F482 SMO is a 1989 Land Rover Defender in Orange with a 3,528cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 87%.

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 F482 SMO, 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 F482 SMO?

You can check the full history of F482 SMO by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was F482 SMO registered?

F482 SMO is a 1989 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 11 May 1989.

Is F482 SMO safe to buy?

The MOT history for F482 SMO shows 23 tests with a 87% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does F482 SMO 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 F482 SMO. 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.