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F488 RJU

1989 Land Rover Defender

Black Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires15 Oct 2026
Tests17 (11 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate64.7%

Mileage

185,248 mi
Last recorded185,248 miles
Recorded on16 Oct 2025
Typical for 1989 Land Rover Defender127,912 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Finance
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationF488 RJU
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

11 pass 6 fail
Pass 16 Oct 2025 185,248 miles

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

Central Front Oil leak, but not excessive drop box (8.4.1 (a) (i))

front and rear diff slight leeks

steering swivels slight weep

Pass 9 Oct 2024 184,571 miles

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

Pass 1 Aug 2023 182,133 miles

Lower Steering column universal joint has slight wear or play (2.2.2 (c))

Fail 28 Jul 2023 182,132 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

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

Nearside Rear Service brake has no recorded effort at a wheel (1.2.1 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Lower Steering column universal joint has slight wear or play (2.2.2 (c))

Fail 9 Dec 2022 181,868 miles

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

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

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

Nearside Headlamp aim not tested (4.1.2 (b))

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Headlamp aim not tested (4.1.2 (b))

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Service brake has no recorded effort at a wheel (1.2.1 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Front exhaust insecure

Nearside Front Fluid leak, but not excessive hub seal (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Fluid leak, but not excessive hub seal (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Pass 3 Feb 2017 176,400 miles

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Pass 3 Apr 2013 175,563 miles

Offside Front Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a seal (2.3.3b)

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

Pass 25 Feb 2012 173,871 miles
Fail 23 Feb 2012 173,871 miles

Brake master cylinder/servo mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (3.6.C.3)

Nearside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

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

Offside Brake actuating linkage mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (3.3.A.2)

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Offside Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering (6.1.A.1)

Rear registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

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

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

Vehicle Identification Number incomplete (6.3.5a)

Pass 22 Nov 2010 168,451 miles

Centre Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

light corrosion off side rear chassis

Fail 22 Nov 2010 168,451 miles

Centre Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

light corrosion off side rear chassis

Pass 24 Sep 2009 164,503 miles
Fail 21 Sep 2009 164,465 miles

Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Horn emits two or more alternating tones (1.6.2d)

Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Pass 23 Sep 2008 161,987 miles
Fail 15 Sep 2008 161,952 miles

Fuel tank leaking (7.2.3)

Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 18 Sep 2007 159,171 miles

nearside body outerrigger slightly corroded

Pass 13 Sep 2006 152,005 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

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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F488 RJU is a 1989 Land Rover Defender in Black with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 17 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.7%.

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 F488 RJU, 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 F488 RJU?

You can check the full history of F488 RJU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was F488 RJU registered?

F488 RJU is a 1989 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 28 March 1989.

Is F488 RJU safe to buy?

The MOT history for F488 RJU shows 17 tests with a 64.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does F488 RJU 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 F488 RJU. 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.