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FD51 VAM

2001 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires26 Oct 2026
Tests36 (21 pass, 15 fail)
Pass rate58.3%

Mileage

148,495 mi
Last recorded148,495 miles
Recorded on27 Oct 2025
Typical for 2001 Land Rover Defender94,644 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationFD51 VAM
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year2001
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

21 pass 15 fail
Pass 27 Oct 2025 148,495 miles

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

Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Fail 16 Oct 2025 148,487 miles

Fuel tank insecure Support corroded away (6.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced Chassis multiple places (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Offside Rear Lower Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Front Prop shaft joint so worn it is likely to fail Prop front joint (6.1.7 (c) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

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

Pass 18 Oct 2024 140,660 miles

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

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

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Corrosion throughout (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Fail 17 Oct 2024 140,660 miles

Offside Windscreen wiper missing (3.4 (a))

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

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

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Corrosion throughout (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 19 Oct 2023 133,270 miles

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

Fail 19 Oct 2023 133,270 miles

Offside Rear Shock absorbers insecurely attached (5.3.2 (a) (i))

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

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

Pass 7 Oct 2022 127,312 miles

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

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

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

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

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Corrosion throughout (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Fail 4 Oct 2022 127,310 miles

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Coil spring insecure (5.3.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Front Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced Outrigger (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively Both (3.4 (b) (ii))

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

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

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

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

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Corrosion throughout (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 5 Oct 2021 120,382 miles

Offside Front Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Outrigger (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Fail 5 Oct 2021 120,380 miles

Front Prop shaft joint so worn it is likely to fail Prop front joint (6.1.7 (c) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Outrigger (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Pass 22 Oct 2020 113,831 miles

Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Front 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 4 Nov 2019 108,603 miles
Fail 30 Oct 2019 108,597 miles

Nearside Suspension component pin or bush excessively worn front & rear torsion bar bushes (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Steering linkage ball joint has excessive play steering arm (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Suspension component pin or bush excessively worn front & rear bushes (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 8 Nov 2018 102,448 miles

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

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

Fail 8 Nov 2018 102,448 miles

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

Offside Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Offside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

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

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

Pass 14 Nov 2017 95,404 miles
Fail 6 Nov 2017 95,403 miles

Fuel system component leaking filter area (7.2.3)

Nearside Front Inner brake disc contaminated by oil Face (3.5.1h)

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering Bulkhead outriggers o/s and n/s (6.1.A.1)

Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings Rear quarter chassis section (6.1.B.2)

Propshaft universal joint worn Rear prop / rear joint ()

Pass 11 Nov 2016 84,471 miles

Coolant leak water pump ()

Nearside Front Axle swivel joint has slight play (2.5.A.3b)

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

Fail 8 Nov 2016 84,471 miles

Nearside Rear brake disc contaminated by oil (3.5.1h)

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (3.7.B.5b)

Vehicle structure excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.6.6)

Coolant leak water pump ()

Nearside Front Axle swivel joint has slight play (2.5.A.3b)

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

Pass 20 Oct 2015 74,801 miles

Offside Seat belt buckle casing missing but working

Fail 20 Oct 2015 74,801 miles

Offside Headlamp aim too high and too far to the right. (1.8)

Offside Seat belt buckle casing missing but working

Pass 17 Nov 2014 65,265 miles
Pass 14 Sep 2013 58,501 miles

drivers seat belt buckle cover missing

Fail 12 Sep 2013 58,501 miles

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

Nearside Front Radius arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Lower Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Nearside Rear reflector missing (1.5.1a)

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

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

Offside Headlamp aim too far to the right (1.8)

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

Offside Rear Lower Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Speedometer cannot be illuminated. (6.7.3)

Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f) DANGEROUS

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

drivers seat belt buckle cover missing

Fail 27 Sep 2012 54,875 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

drivers seat belt buckle incomplete

Pass 27 Sep 2012 54,875 miles

drivers seat belt buckle incomplete

Pass 28 Sep 2011 50,520 miles

235/85x16 on the front 750x16 on the rear

Fail 27 Sep 2011 50,520 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too far to the left (1.8)

Nearside Windscreen wiper blade insecure (8.2.2)

Offside Headlamp aim too far to the right (1.8)

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

Offside Rear position lamp(s) adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Windscreen wiper blade insecure (8.2.2)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

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

235/85x16 on the front 750x16 on the rear

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

quite alot of travel on the hand brake

rear uj on the front prop worn

Fail 22 Sep 2010 45,742 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the right. (1.8)

Pass 22 Sep 2010 45,742 miles
Pass 2 Oct 2009 40,165 miles

drivers seat belt buckle cover missing

Fail 2 Oct 2009 40,165 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too far to the left (1.8)

drivers seat belt buckle cover missing

Pass 12 Sep 2008 34,028 miles
Pass 28 Sep 2007 28,641 miles

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is distorted but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Pass 21 Sep 2006 23,097 miles

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is distorted but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

bonnet cable broken but can be opened from outside

Pass 5 Oct 2005 20,441 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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FD51 VAM is a 2001 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 36 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 58.3%.

Across all 2001 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 71.0% with a typical mileage of 94,644 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 FD51 VAM, 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 25 years old, this Land Rover Defender is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of FD51 VAM?

You can check the full history of FD51 VAM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was FD51 VAM registered?

FD51 VAM is a 2001 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 30 November 2001.

Is FD51 VAM safe to buy?

The MOT history for FD51 VAM shows 36 tests with a 58.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does FD51 VAM 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 FD51 VAM. 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.