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F489 RJU

1989 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires4 Sep 2026
Tests18 (13 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate72.2%

Mileage

171,903 mi
Last recorded171,903 miles
Recorded on5 Sep 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

RegistrationF489 RJU
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 5 fail
Pass 5 Sep 2025 171,903 miles

Exhaust mounting defective all perished (6.1.2 (a))

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

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced chassis rail (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

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

Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage around resavoir pipe work (2.1.5 (a))

Steering system slightly rough (2.1.1 (a))

Pass 23 Jul 2024 171,296 miles

Exhaust mounting defective perished (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Valve stem slightly damaged (5.2.3 (j))

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

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive shock absorber top mount area (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Valve stem slightly misaligned (5.2.3 (j))

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

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive shock absorber top mount area (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Steering system slightly rough (2.1.1 (a))

Pass 24 Aug 2023 170,696 miles

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

Nearside Front Valve stem slightly damaged (5.2.3 (j))

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

Offside Front Valve stem slightly damaged (5.2.3 (j))

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component hose from resovior (2.1.5 (a))

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

Fail 23 Aug 2023 170,696 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Front Valve stem slightly damaged (5.2.3 (j))

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

Offside Front Valve stem slightly damaged (5.2.3 (j))

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component hose from resovior (2.1.5 (a))

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

Fail 27 Jul 2023 170,695 miles

Offside Front Brake disc contaminated (1.1.14 (b))

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength chassis rail (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive chassis rail (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Valve stem slightly damaged (5.2.3 (j))

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

Offside Front Valve stem slightly damaged (5.2.3 (j))

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component hose from resovior (2.1.5 (a))

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

Pass 10 Jun 2022 169,883 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive CHASSIS (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Fail 6 Jun 2022 169,878 miles

Front Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements (0.1 (d))

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage loose REEL (7.1.1 (b))

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage loose REEL (7.1.1 (b))

Offside Rear Suspension arm attachment bracket/mounting corroded and seriously weakened TIE BAR /AXLE BRACKET (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Oil leaking excessively from engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements (0.1 (d))

Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn AXLE JOINT (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension arm attachment bracket/mounting fractured TIE BAR/AXLE BRACKET (5.3.3 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive CHASSIS (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 10 May 2021 168,697 miles

Nearside Rear reflector not red in colour (4.8.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

Offside Rear reflector not red in colour (4.8.2 (a) (i))

Fail 7 May 2021 168,694 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle ON RIGHT HAND LOCK CONTACTING SUSPENSION (5.2.3 (f))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear reflector not red in colour (4.8.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

Offside Rear reflector not red in colour (4.8.2 (a) (i))

Pass 9 Jun 2020 167,510 miles
Pass 12 Nov 2016 167,428 miles
Pass 31 Jan 2015 167,282 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Oil leak

Pass 29 Oct 2013 163,852 miles

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

Offside Front Upper Axle swivel joint has slight play (2.5.A.3b)

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

Fail 24 Oct 2013 163,832 miles

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

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

Offside Front Upper Axle swivel joint has slight play (2.5.A.3b)

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

Pass 8 Mar 2012 159,406 miles

Brake master cylinder/servo mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (3.6.C.3)

Nearside Rear Lower Coil spring mounting corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.C.3c)

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

Offside Rear Lower Coil spring mounting corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.C.3c)

Pass 9 Mar 2011 154,861 miles

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

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

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

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

Offside Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

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

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

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

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

both steering uj joints have slight play

Pass 13 Mar 2010 149,619 miles

Nearside Front Lower Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

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

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

Pass 14 Feb 2009 148,971 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Oil leak

Steering system lightly rubbing (2.2.D.2a)

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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F489 RJU is a 1989 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72.2%.

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 F489 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 F489 RJU?

You can check the full history of F489 RJU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was F489 RJU registered?

F489 RJU is a 1989 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 28 March 1989.

Is F489 RJU safe to buy?

The MOT history for F489 RJU shows 18 tests with a 72.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does F489 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 F489 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.