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F503 SWS

1989 Land Rover Defender

Red Diesel 2500cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires4 Apr 2026
Tests19 (16 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate84.2%

Mileage

161,887 mi
Last recorded161,887 miles
Recorded on4 Apr 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

RegistrationF503 SWS
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1989
ColourRed
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,500cc

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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

16 pass 3 fail
Pass 4 Apr 2025 161,887 miles

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

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge STRONG ADVISE (5.2.3 (e))

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

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Fail 2 Apr 2025 161,875 miles

Exhaust emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit (8.2.2.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment on rear arm (2.1.3 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge STRONG ADVISE (5.2.3 (e))

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

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 2 Apr 2024 155,670 miles
Pass 5 Apr 2023 148,347 miles
Pass 14 Mar 2022 141,055 miles

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

Pass 16 Mar 2021 136,669 miles
Pass 18 Mar 2020 128,873 miles
Pass 25 Mar 2019 119,817 miles
Pass 29 Mar 2018 196,784 miles
Pass 27 Mar 2017 183,393 miles

Nearside Panhard rod rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 29 Mar 2016 172,082 miles
Pass 27 Mar 2015 162,479 miles
Fail 27 Mar 2015 162,479 miles

Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

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

Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Pass 31 Mar 2014 155,191 miles

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

Non obligatory mirror damaged

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

Offside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Pass 20 Mar 2013 146,732 miles

Offside Headlamp damaged but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Pass 4 Apr 2012 139,643 miles
Pass 11 Mar 2011 132,012 miles
Fail 7 Mar 2011 132,012 miles

Brake servo leaking (3.6.C.1c)

Power steering component(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

Power steering pump leaking from a failed component (2.3.3b)

rear brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

Pass 5 Feb 2010 131,424 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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F503 SWS is a 1989 Land Rover Defender in Red with a 2,500cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 84.2%.

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 F503 SWS, 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 F503 SWS?

You can check the full history of F503 SWS by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was F503 SWS registered?

F503 SWS is a 1989 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 24 July 1989.

Is F503 SWS safe to buy?

The MOT history for F503 SWS shows 19 tests with a 84.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does F503 SWS 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 F503 SWS. 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.