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F781 XBV

1989 Land Rover Defender

White Petrol 3528cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires19 Nov 2026
Tests31 (21 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate67.7%

Mileage

112,065 mi
Last recorded112,065 miles
Recorded on28 Oct 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
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationF781 XBV
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1989
ColourWhite
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,528cc

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 10 fail
Pass 28 Oct 2025 112,065 miles
Pass 25 Oct 2024 111,863 miles
Pass 24 Oct 2023 117,704 miles

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

Oil leak, but not excessive appears to be oil pressure switch area (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 2 Nov 2022 111,466 miles

Coil spring corroded both sides, front and rear (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Headlamp reflector slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

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

Offside Headlamp reflector slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

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

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

Fail 1 Nov 2022 111,448 miles

Emissions not tested co and hydrocarbons excessively and obviously above limits (8.2.1.2 (d))

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

Coil spring corroded both sides, front and rear (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Headlamp reflector slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

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

Offside Headlamp reflector slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

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

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

Pass 22 Oct 2021 111,198 miles

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

horn sounds 'weak'

Pass 5 Nov 2020 110,978 miles

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

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Fail 4 Nov 2020 110,964 miles

Offside Brakes imbalanced across an axle low reading (1.2.1 (b) (i))

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

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 11 Nov 2019 110,665 miles

Power steering pump has slight seepage power steering pump area (2.1.5 (a))

Rear Coil spring corroded both sides (5.3.1 (b) (i))

rear exhaust silencer deteriorated

Fail 8 Nov 2019 110,665 miles

Brake performance not tested (1.2.1 (g))

Front Brake pipe connection leaking on a hydraulic braking system across front under radiator (1.1.11 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Power steering pump has slight seepage power steering pump area (2.1.5 (a))

Rear Coil spring corroded both sides (5.3.1 (b) (i))

rear exhaust silencer deteriorated

Pass 5 Nov 2018 110,470 miles

Rear Body mounting fixing insecure, but overall security not significantly reduced support member under rear seats area (6.2.2 (c) (i))

Fail 2 Nov 2018 110,456 miles

Offside Front Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced chassis by rear suspension arm (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension spring mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Rear Body mounting fixing insecure, but overall security not significantly reduced support member under rear seats area (6.2.2 (c) (i))

Pass 3 Nov 2017 110,105 miles

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

Pass 3 Nov 2016 109,156 miles

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

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

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

vehicle has had several welding repairs

Fail 2 Nov 2016 109,139 miles

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

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

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

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

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

vehicle has had several welding repairs

Pass 4 Nov 2015 108,719 miles

Front both sides have slight play in upper steering swivel assemblies on axle

minor damage on both front seat belts

Fail 4 Nov 2015 108,719 miles

Front both sides have slight play in upper steering swivel assemblies on axle

Nearside Headlamp aim too high and too far to the left. (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

minor damage on both front seat belts

Pass 6 Nov 2014 108,485 miles

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

Offside Rear Lower passenger door pillar deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.B.2)

Sill supports both sides heavily corroded

Steering box has slight dampness

Top axle ball joint play

nsf headlamp has condensation

nsf tractor joint weap

Fail 5 Nov 2014 108,472 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Front Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)

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

Offside Rear Lower passenger door pillar deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.B.2)

Sill supports both sides heavily corroded

Top axle ball joint play

nsf headlamp has condensation

nsf tractor joint weap

Pass 8 Nov 2013 108,275 miles

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 7 Nov 2012 107,901 miles

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

Pass 1 Nov 2011 107,625 miles

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

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

N/S/R bump stop missing . General corrosion underside

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

Slight leak from steering box

coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 19 Nov 2010 107,173 miles

Oil leak

all road springs rusting

n/s/r bump stop missing

steering box damp

unders side of this car very rusty

Fail 5 Nov 2010 107,159 miles

Nearside Rear Lower Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Offside Front Lower Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Oil leak

all road springs rusting

n/s/r bump stop missing

steering box damp

unders side of this car very rusty

Pass 20 Nov 2009 106,483 miles

Heavy corrosion staring underside

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

Fail 13 Nov 2009 106,470 miles

Front registration plate letter/figure incomplete (6.3.1c)

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

Heavy corrosion staring underside

Nearside Front Panhard rod has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 14 Nov 2008 99,968 miles

Dampness on power steering fluid resovoir

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

Nearside Rear Upper Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 26 Oct 2007 94,507 miles

Heavy corrosion underside at rear and and front

Pass 9 Nov 2006 73,120 miles

Intermitent fault with fog lamp but worked for duration of test after tapping lamp

side steps have corroded mountings

small oil leak from steering box area

Pass 11 Nov 2005 88,468 miles
Fail 31 Oct 2005 88,395 miles

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Centre exhaust clamp loose. †Road wheels starting to rust. †Steering box appears damp but no actual leak under pressure test.

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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F781 XBV is a 1989 Land Rover Defender in White with a 3,528cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 67.7%.

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 F781 XBV, 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 F781 XBV?

You can check the full history of F781 XBV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was F781 XBV registered?

F781 XBV is a 1989 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 10 January 1989.

Is F781 XBV safe to buy?

The MOT history for F781 XBV shows 31 tests with a 67.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does F781 XBV 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 F781 XBV. 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.