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G256 RCJ

1989 Land Rover Defender

Black Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires22 Dec 2026
Tests33 (18 pass, 15 fail)
Pass rate54.5%

Mileage

196,251 mi
Last recorded196,251 miles
Recorded on16 Dec 2025
Typical for 1989 Land Rover Defender127,912 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationG256 RCJ
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1989
ColourBlack
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

18 pass 15 fail
Pass 16 Dec 2025 196,251 miles

Front Oil leak, but not excessive Diff pinion seal (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Oil leak, but not excessive Swivel seal (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Oil leak, but not excessive Swivel seal (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 11 Dec 2024 193,299 miles

Front Oil leak, but not excessive Diff pinion seal (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Oil leak, but not excessive Axle swivel seal (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Front Oil leak, but not excessive Axle swivel seal (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Fail 11 Dec 2024 193,299 miles

Front Suspension locking device missing Adjustable panhard rod lock nut (5.3.6 (b))

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

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

Parking brake lever has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustment (1.1.6 (c))

Front Oil leak, but not excessive Diff pinion seal (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Lower Steering column universal joint has slight wear or play Slight play between both UJ's and splines (2.2.2 (c))

Nearside Front Oil leak, but not excessive Axle swivel seal (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Front Oil leak, but not excessive Axle swivel seal (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Oil leak, but not excessive Engine oil cooler pipes (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 23 Dec 2023 188,961 miles
Pass 18 Aug 2022 188,940 miles

CAB FLOOR CORRODED

HIGH LEVEL STOP LAMP NOT WORKING

WIPERS SLOW

Fail 17 Aug 2022 188,940 miles

Headlamp aim not tested LIGHT SWITCH NOT WORKING (4.1.2 (b))

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Passenger's seat insecure FLOOR MOUNTINGS LOOSE (6.2.6 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

CAB FLOOR CORRODED

HIGH LEVEL STOP LAMP NOT WORKING

WIPERS SLOW

Pass 13 Aug 2021 187,833 miles
Fail 13 Aug 2021 187,833 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 20 Jul 2018 187,090 miles

Offside Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt drop arm (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Fail 20 Jul 2018 187,090 miles

Nearside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Offside Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt drop arm (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

Rear Brake hose connection leaking on a hydraulic braking system (1.1.12 (c) (ii))

Pass 21 Jul 2017 186,792 miles
Fail 23 Jun 2017 186,792 miles

Direction indicators flashing more than 120 times a minute (1.4.A.2g)

Hazard warning lamps inoperative (1.4.B.1b)

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

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 11 Feb 2016 186,275 miles

front / rear chassis sections corroded

Fail 8 Feb 2016 186,179 miles

Front Hazard warning lamps inoperative (1.4.B.1b)

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt rear bar (2.2.C.1c)

Nearside Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded centre crossmember box section (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt rear bar (2.2.C.1c)

Rear Hazard warning lamps inoperative (1.4.B.1b)

front / rear chassis sections corroded

Pass 21 Feb 2015 185,665 miles
Fail 9 Feb 2015 185,655 miles

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

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

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

Offside Rear Tie bar/rod rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Position lamp switch does not illuminate the front and rear position lamps with a single operation (1.1.A.2)

Fail 5 Nov 2014 185,468 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

rear chassis corroded

rear nearside rebound block missing

steering shaft lower u/j to steering box slight play

Pass 19 Dec 2013 183,726 miles

track rod end rubbers small splits and slight play in steering damper bushes

Pass 17 Dec 2012 182,398 miles

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

Fail 13 Dec 2012 182,264 miles

Centre Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

Power steering pump leaking from a failed joint (2.3.3b)

Steering box has relative movement between sector shaft and the drop arm (2.2.B.1b)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Pass 12 Dec 2011 179,668 miles

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

slight damage on drivers seatbelt

slight fault in opening of passenger door from inside

Fail 7 Dec 2011 179,588 miles

Intermediate drop arm insecure (2.2.B.1a)

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

Offside Front Panhard rod rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

play in front prop u/j

slight damage on drivers seatbelt

slight fault in opening of passenger door from inside

Pass 20 Dec 2010 174,697 miles
Fail 17 Dec 2010 174,696 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 Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

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

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

Pass 17 Dec 2009 170,864 miles
Fail 30 Nov 2009 170,850 miles

Front Power steering component(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

Front Power steering pump leaking from a failed component (2.3.3b)

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

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

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

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

Pass 11 Dec 2008 167,252 miles
Fail 8 Dec 2008 167,252 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 12 Dec 2007 164,029 miles
Fail 10 Dec 2007 164,029 miles

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Power steering component(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

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

Pass 11 Dec 2006 161,361 miles
Pass 8 Dec 2005 158,285 miles
Fail 28 Oct 2005 157,977 miles

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Offside Front Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

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

Offside Rear Shock absorber casing damaged externally so the unit does not function (2.7.2a)

Offside Rear Vehicle structure is cracked, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

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.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

G256 RCJ is a 1989 Land Rover Defender in Black with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 33 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 54.5%.

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 G256 RCJ, 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 G256 RCJ?

You can check the full history of G256 RCJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was G256 RCJ registered?

G256 RCJ is a 1989 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 4 September 1989.

Is G256 RCJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for G256 RCJ shows 33 tests with a 54.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does G256 RCJ 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 G256 RCJ. 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.