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F490 XJT

1989 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires18 Dec 2026
Tests30 (19 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate63.3%

Mileage

142,682 mi
Last recorded142,682 miles
Recorded on10 Dec 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
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationF490 XJT
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

19 pass 11 fail
Pass 10 Dec 2025 142,682 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

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

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Rear Suspension component ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated top axle (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 18 Dec 2024 141,604 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed nearside and offside (7.1.2 (b))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 11 Dec 2023 141,227 miles

Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed nearside and offside (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 19 Dec 2022 140,463 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 19 Nov 2021 139,953 miles

Nearside Rear hub oil seal leaking

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 1 Dec 2020 139,070 miles

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Fail 30 Nov 2020 139,063 miles

Nearside Rear Rear reflector missing (4.8.2 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 5 Dec 2019 138,203 miles

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Fail 2 Dec 2019 138,192 miles

Brake disc contaminated handbrake disc (1.1.14 (b))

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm insecurely attached bolts lose (5.3.3 (a) (i))

Offside Front Intermediate drop arm insecure (2.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm insecurely attached bolt loose (5.3.3 (a) (i))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 10 Dec 2018 137,322 miles

Brake fluid close to minimum mark (1.1.10 (d) (ii))

Offside Front axel seal leaking but not contaminating the brake disc

Power steering pump has slight seepage steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing all four (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Wheel/tyre protruding beyond wheel arch all four ()

parking brake has slight reserve travel

Fail 10 Dec 2018 137,322 miles

Central Brake disc contaminated handbrake disc (1.1.14 (b))

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Brake fluid close to minimum mark (1.1.10 (d) (ii))

Offside Front axel seal leaking but not contaminating the brake disc

Power steering pump has slight seepage steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing all four (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

parking brake has slight reserve travel

Pass 18 Dec 2017 135,811 miles

parking brake effort minimum

Pass 4 Jun 2016 135,611 miles
Fail 4 Jun 2016 135,611 miles

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid both (8.2.3)

Pass 21 Nov 2014 135,351 miles

slight leak on o/s front hub seal

Pass 8 Oct 2013 134,553 miles

Oil leak

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

underside of car painted black

vehicle is highly modified

Fail 7 Oct 2013 134,553 miles

Indicator switch faulty (1.4.A.1)

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

Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

Oil leak

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

underside of car painted black

vehicle is highly modified

Pass 23 Oct 2012 133,519 miles

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

drivers door stiff to close

Fail 22 Oct 2012 133,517 miles

Hazard warning tell tale not working correctly (1.4.B.1e)

Indicator tell tale inoperative (1.4.A.2a)

Nearside Front Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release (5.2.5a)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Rear fog lamp switch missing (1.3.1a)

Rear fog lamp tell tale missing (1.3.1b)

Steering pivot point has excessive play (2.2.B.1g)

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

drivers door stiff to close

Pass 20 Oct 2011 132,107 miles

ball joint on drop arm fouls on undershield

signs of slight leak from power steering pump

Fail 14 Oct 2011 132,105 miles

Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine (7.4.B.3b)

Front Steering arm has relative movement at its fixings (2.2.B.1h)

Front registration plate incorrect (6.3.1a)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

ball joint on drop arm fouls on undershield

signs of slight leak from power steering pump

Pass 11 Oct 2010 130,028 miles

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

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

Suspension joint offside upper dust cover split/missing

handbrake has no reserve travel

Fail 7 Oct 2010 130,026 miles

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

Offside Steering retaining device insecure (2.2.C.1g)

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

Rear Brake pipe inadequately clipped (3.6.B.1)

Rear fog lamp switch faulty (1.3.1a)

Steering system fouling (2.2.D.2a)

Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone 'A' (8.3.1e)

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

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

Suspension joint offside upper dust cover split/missing

handbrake has no reserve travel

Pass 30 Oct 2009 125,665 miles
Fail 30 Oct 2009 125,665 miles

Front Side repeater incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

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

Nearside Rear Stop lamp excessively damaged so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.2.1d)

Pass 14 Oct 2008 122,508 miles
Fail 9 Oct 2008 122,479 miles

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

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

Pass 19 Oct 2007 117,136 miles
Fail 19 Oct 2007 117,136 miles

Front registration plate faded (6.3.1d)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Pass 20 Oct 2006 111,769 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

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F490 XJT is a 1989 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 30 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.3%.

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 F490 XJT, 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 F490 XJT?

You can check the full history of F490 XJT by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was F490 XJT registered?

F490 XJT is a 1989 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 20 April 1989.

Is F490 XJT safe to buy?

The MOT history for F490 XJT shows 30 tests with a 63.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does F490 XJT 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 F490 XJT. 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.