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G17 DFA

1997 Land Rover Defender

Grey Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires12 Mar 2027
Tests31 (20 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate64.5%

Mileage

209,835 mi
Last recorded209,835 miles
Recorded on26 Feb 2026
Typical for 1997 Land Rover Defender117,879 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationG17 DFA
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1997
ColourGrey
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

20 pass 11 fail
Pass 26 Feb 2026 209,835 miles
Pass 13 Mar 2025 206,224 miles

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

Nearside Front Cab or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

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

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

Offside Front Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Fail 13 Mar 2025 206,224 miles

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

Nearside Front Cab or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

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

Offside Front Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Pass 22 Apr 2024 205,767 miles

Front Fluid leak, but not excessive diff damp (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material and offside front (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded and offside front (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive engine and gearbox (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 13 Feb 2023 204,921 miles

Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Position lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning (4.2.1 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Fail 13 Feb 2023 204,921 miles

Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Position lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning (4.2.1 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 19 Jan 2022 203,399 miles

Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Position lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning (4.2.1 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Obligatory mirror slightly loose (3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Fail 12 Jan 2022 203,364 miles

Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Position lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning (4.2.1 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Obligatory mirror slightly loose (3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 16 Nov 2020 198,980 miles

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

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

Pass 9 Nov 2019 195,737 miles
Fail 5 Nov 2019 195,730 miles

Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar vehicle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition sylencer missing (8.1.1 (a))

Offside Front Lower Drag link end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt drop arm (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Pass 8 Nov 2018 194,226 miles
Fail 5 Nov 2018 194,226 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn 2xbushes (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Headlamp aim so that beam "kick up" is not visible on the screen (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn 2xbushes (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Prop shaft joint excessively worn (6.1.7 (c) (i))

Steering box has excessive movement between sector shaft and the drop arm (2.1.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 18 Oct 2017 186,239 miles

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

Fail 18 Oct 2017 186,239 miles

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering (6.1.A.1)

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

Offside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering (6.1.A.1)

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

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

Pass 14 Oct 2016 180,514 miles

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

Oil leak engine ()

Fail 13 Oct 2016 180,502 miles

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

Oil leak engine ()

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

Pass 3 Jul 2015 177,342 miles

Oil leak

Pass 7 Apr 2014 171,297 miles
Fail 25 Mar 2014 171,297 miles

Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

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

Offside Headlamp does not operate immediately when selected on dipped beam (1.7.4a)

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

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

Pass 5 Mar 2013 166,498 miles

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

Oil leak

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

n/s/ front hub seal leaking

Pass 19 Jan 2012 161,156 miles
Fail 5 Feb 2011 154,579 miles

Fuel pipe leaking (7.2.3)

Nearside outer track rod end joint cover split/missing

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 5 Feb 2011 154,579 miles

Nearside outer track rod end joint cover split/missing

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 26 Jan 2010 150,086 miles
Pass 12 Mar 2009 144,327 miles

Nearside Rear Tie bar/rod rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Tie bar/rod rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Fail 10 Mar 2009 144,327 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Tie bar/rod rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Tie bar/rod rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 17 Mar 2008 122,464 miles
Pass 23 Feb 2007 104,270 miles
Fail 22 Feb 2007 104,266 miles

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

Offside Steering damper damaged and unserviceable (2.2.C.1d)

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

Offside Rear Lower Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 17 Mar 2006 95,332 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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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.

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G17 DFA is a 1997 Land Rover Defender in Grey with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.5%.

Across all 1997 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.5% with a typical mileage of 117,879 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 G17 DFA, 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 29 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 G17 DFA?

You can check the full history of G17 DFA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was G17 DFA registered?

G17 DFA is a 1997 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is G17 DFA safe to buy?

The MOT history for G17 DFA shows 31 tests with a 64.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does G17 DFA 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 G17 DFA. 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.