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G197 PFJ

1989 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires7 May 2027
Tests32 (19 pass, 13 fail)
Pass rate59.4%

Mileage

105,496 mi
Last recorded105,496 miles
Recorded on28 Apr 2026
Typical for 1989 Land Rover Defender127,912 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationG197 PFJ
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1989
ColourBlue
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

19 pass 13 fail
Pass 28 Apr 2026 105,496 miles
Pass 1 May 2025 104,463 miles
Pass 8 May 2024 104,061 miles
Pass 6 Feb 2023 103,508 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement front bushes (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view zone A (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 23 Jan 2023 103,495 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement front bushes (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view zone A (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 19 Jan 2022 103,270 miles

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

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

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

Fail 19 Jan 2022 103,270 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

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

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

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

Pass 30 Jan 2021 102,720 miles

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

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

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Single pipe to rear axle (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 1 Oct 2018 101,943 miles

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

Fail 18 Sep 2018 101,937 miles

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

Nearside Rear Stop lamp(s) all missing (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

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

Pass 4 Sep 2017 95,976 miles

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Oil leak ()

Pass 9 Sep 2016 93,204 miles

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

fuel cap locked not checked

Fail 8 Sep 2016 93,200 miles

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

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

Offside Front Drag link end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Headlamp aim too high both sides (1.8)

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

Oil leak ()

fuel cap locked not checked

Pass 7 Oct 2015 92,865 miles

Offside Front Drag link end ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Fail 7 Oct 2015 92,865 miles

Offside Front Drag link end ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 29 Oct 2014 92,011 miles
Fail 29 Oct 2014 92,011 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Rear Braking system leaking (3.6.A.1)

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

Offside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

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

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

Fail 22 Oct 2013 90,196 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

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

Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

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

Pass 22 Oct 2013 90,196 miles

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)

Pass 17 Oct 2012 88,492 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Fail 17 Oct 2012 88,492 miles

Centre Rear Torque/reaction arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Front Drag link end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Nearside Passenger's seat insecure (6.2.A.1)

Offside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Drag link end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 20 Oct 2011 86,886 miles
Fail 20 Oct 2011 86,886 miles

Hazard warning switch faulty (1.4.B.1d)

Pass 21 Oct 2010 85,883 miles
Fail 21 Oct 2010 85,882 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

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

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b) DANGEROUS

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1a) DANGEROUS

Pass 21 Oct 2009 84,484 miles
Pass 23 Oct 2008 83,220 miles
Fail 23 Oct 2008 83,220 miles

Steering column universal joint has excessive play (2.1.5)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 24 Oct 2007 82,272 miles
Fail 24 Oct 2007 82,272 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Fail 13 Oct 2006 81,060 miles

Nearside Rear Rear reflector missing (1.5.1a)

Pass 13 Oct 2006 81,060 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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G197 PFJ is a 1989 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 32 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 59.4%.

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 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 G197 PFJ, 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 G197 PFJ?

You can check the full history of G197 PFJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was G197 PFJ registered?

G197 PFJ is a 1989 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 1 August 1989.

Is G197 PFJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for G197 PFJ shows 32 tests with a 59.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does G197 PFJ 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 G197 PFJ. 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.