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F604 GWE

1989 Land Rover Defender

White Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires29 Dec 2026
Tests13 (8 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate61.5%

Mileage

130,878 mi
Last recorded130,878 miles
Recorded on30 Dec 2025
Typical for 1989 Land Rover Defender127,912 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationF604 GWE
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1989
ColourWhite
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

8 pass 5 fail
Pass 30 Dec 2025 130,878 miles

Battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier (4.13 (a) (i))

Wheel bearing has slight play both fronts slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Fail 17 Dec 2025 130,878 miles

Brake pipe likely to become detached or damaged both front pipes from caliper not supported at flexy join brackets missing (1.1.11 (d) (ii))

Front Suspension component pin or bush excessively worn panard rod bushes worn so axle moves side to side (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure inadequately repaired such that structural rigidity is significantly reduced plate not welded on 3 sides (6.1.1 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Vehicle structure inadequately repaired such that structural rigidity is significantly reduced plate not fully welded (marked in yellow) (6.1.1 (d) (i))

Rear fog lamp tell-tale not working (4.9.1 (a) (ii))

Steering locking device missing no clamps on track rod ends (2.1.3 (d))

Battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier (4.13 (a) (i))

Wheel bearing has slight play both fronts slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Fail 18 Dec 2023 130,855 miles

Brake pedal has insufficient reserve travel (1.1.2 (a))

Brake pipe likely to become detached or damaged all (1.1.11 (d) (ii))

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

Hazard warning lamps inoperative all (4.4.1 (e))

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.2.3 (c))

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has excessive play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Front passenger door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

Nearside Front passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing rough when rotated (5.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Offside Front Position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.2.3 (c))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing rough when rotated (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Rear Exhaust system insecure (6.1.2 (a))

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

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Service brake lagging in operation (1.2.1 (d))

Steering wheel has movement relative to the column indicating looseness (2.2.1 (a) (i))

Windscreen wiper not working (3.4 (a))

Nearside Steering box has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel to the extent that safe steering is affected (steering box fitted) (2.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Seat belt likely to become detached in the event of a collision (7.1.1 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Wheel bearing play so excessive it is likely to break up (5.1.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Steering box has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel to the extent that safe steering is affected (steering box fitted) (2.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 5 Aug 2023

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material ALL (1.1.11 (c))

FULL UNDER BODY HEAVILY UNDER SEALED

Front Wheel bearing has slight play BOTH (5.1.3 (a) (i))

VEHICLE HAS HAD EXTENSIVE WELDING WORK

Fail 17 Apr 2023

Brake performance unable to be tested (1.2.1 (g))

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

Nearside Front Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Offside Front Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

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

Pass 16 Jul 2010 145,190 miles
Pass 15 May 2009 135,333 miles
Pass 31 May 2008 126,968 miles
Fail 30 May 2008 126,964 miles

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

Pass 5 Mar 2007 120,987 miles
Pass 2 Mar 2007 120,987 miles
Fail 19 Feb 2007 120,987 miles

Lower Steering column universal joint has excessive play (2.1.5)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Pass 13 Jan 2006 118,961 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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F604 GWE is a 1989 Land Rover Defender in White with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 61.5%.

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 F604 GWE, 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 F604 GWE?

You can check the full history of F604 GWE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was F604 GWE registered?

F604 GWE is a 1989 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 27 April 1989.

Is F604 GWE safe to buy?

The MOT history for F604 GWE shows 13 tests with a 61.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does F604 GWE 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 F604 GWE. 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.