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F638 GFD

1989 Land Rover Defender

Brown Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires11 Jan 2027
Tests29 (21 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate72.4%

Mileage

194,893 mi
Last recorded194,893 miles
Recorded on9 Jan 2026
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
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationF638 GFD
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1989
ColourBrown
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

21 pass 8 fail
Pass 9 Jan 2026 194,893 miles
Fail 15 Dec 2025 194,817 miles

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

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

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

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

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 16 Dec 2024 194,192 miles

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

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

Pass 20 Dec 2023 193,412 miles

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

Offside Front Suspension rod pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

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

Fail 12 Dec 2023 193,412 miles

Nearside Front Lower Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

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

Offside Front Suspension rod pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

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

Pass 22 Dec 2022 192,610 miles

Offside Front Suspension rod pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Pass 13 Dec 2021 191,833 miles

Central Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Fail 13 Dec 2021 191,833 miles

Exhaust emissions test not completed because smoke levels are significantly in excess of the specified limit values 0.74 (8.2.2.2 (f))

Central Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

brake pedal sinks , has reserve travel

Offside Rear Passenger's seat insecure (6.2.6 (a) (ii))

Pass 17 Dec 2020 191,167 miles

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

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

Rear Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively (6.1.7 (c) (i))

Fail 16 Dec 2020 191,154 miles

Exhaust emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit 0.74 (8.2.2.2 (a))

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

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

Rear Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively (6.1.7 (c) (i))

Seat belt anchorage loose rear seat / belt mount loose nuts. nut missing , both sides (7.1.1 (b))

Pass 23 Dec 2019 190,643 miles

Both front tyres are on the legal limit and badly perishing

Pass 12 Jan 2019 190,356 miles

Both front tyres are on the legal limit and badly perishing

Pass 3 Jan 2018 190,252 miles

Both front tyres are on the legal limit

Pass 5 Nov 2016 190,196 miles

Both front tyres badly perished,but no visible cords

Pass 10 Oct 2015 190,053 miles

Both front tyres badly perished but no visible cords

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

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

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

Pass 18 Oct 2014 189,985 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

both front tyres showing damage to outside wall not yet excessive

Pass 19 Oct 2013 189,631 miles

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

slight damage to nearside front tyre

Pass 6 Oct 2012 187,099 miles

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

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

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

Oil leak

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

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

front brake disc/s uneven wear

offside front tyre starting to crack/perrish

steering damper bush/es starting to deteriorate

Pass 24 Sep 2011 185,741 miles

Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Oil leak

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

Fail 24 Sep 2011 185,741 miles

Front registration plate insecure (6.3.1b)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber insecure (2.7.2b)

Offside Rear Shock absorber insecure (2.7.2b)

Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Oil leak

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

Pass 5 Oct 2010 183,998 miles

both front brake discs rusty

Fail 25 Sep 2010 183,998 miles

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

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

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

Offside Front Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

both front brake discs rusty

Pass 15 Oct 2009 182,471 miles

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

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

Fail 10 Oct 2009 182,471 miles

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

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

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

Offside Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.2.C.1h)

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

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

slight play in steering arm bush

Pass 27 Sep 2008 180,650 miles

Front tyre walls perishing

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 22 Sep 2007 173,733 miles

Front tyres outer walls cracking

Nearside wiper blade split

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

Pass 30 Sep 2006 166,730 miles

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

offside front hub seal has a slight leak

Pass 8 Oct 2005 158,788 miles
Fail 8 Oct 2005 158,788 miles

Front Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Brake pad(s) locking device insecure (3.5.1l)

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

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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

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.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

F638 GFD is a 1989 Land Rover Defender in Brown with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72.4%.

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 F638 GFD, 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 F638 GFD?

You can check the full history of F638 GFD by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was F638 GFD registered?

F638 GFD is a 1989 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 25 April 1989.

Is F638 GFD safe to buy?

The MOT history for F638 GFD shows 29 tests with a 72.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does F638 GFD 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 F638 GFD. 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.