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G288 KWE

1989 Land Rover Defender

Yellow Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 Apr 2027
Tests19 (12 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate63.2%

Mileage

171,507 mi
Last recorded171,507 miles
Recorded on29 Apr 2026
Typical for 1989 Land Rover Defender127,912 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationG288 KWE
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1989
ColourYellow
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

12 pass 7 fail
Pass 29 Apr 2026 171,507 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced footwell. small hole (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 16 Jul 2019 171,252 miles

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

Pass 19 Jan 2018 171,252 miles
Pass 14 Oct 2016 171,251 miles
Pass 11 Apr 2013 170,752 miles
Fail 11 Apr 2013 170,750 miles

Brake pedal spongy (3.3.B.1b)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 20 Mar 2012 167,734 miles
Fail 8 Mar 2012 167,548 miles

Fuel tank leaking (7.2.3)

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

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

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

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

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

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 5 Apr 2011 163,251 miles
Fail 1 Apr 2011 163,228 miles

Centre Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release (5.2.5a)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Front Side repeater incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Rear registration plate character(s) likely to be misread (6.3.4b)

n/s/r chassis corroded outside prescribed area

o/s/r chassis corroded outside prescibed area

Pass 31 Mar 2010 159,847 miles
Fail 23 Mar 2010 159,486 miles

Fuel tank leaking (7.2.3)

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

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

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

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

Pass 31 Mar 2009 157,595 miles
Fail 26 Mar 2009 157,592 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

Rear Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

nearside front of rear drop wing insecure. offside rear of rear drop wing insecure

Pass 19 Mar 2008 155,033 miles
Fail 13 Mar 2008 155,026 miles

Driver's seat insecure (6.2.A.1)

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

Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

Registration plate lamp not fitted (1.1.C.1b)

Pass 26 Feb 2007 150,107 miles
Fail 22 Feb 2007 150,104 miles

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)

Rear registration plate character(s) likely to be misread (6.3.4b)

Pass 10 Feb 2006 144,137 miles

battery insecure

oil leak

steering joint dust cover split/missing

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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G288 KWE is a 1989 Land Rover Defender in Yellow with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.2%.

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 G288 KWE, 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 G288 KWE?

You can check the full history of G288 KWE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was G288 KWE registered?

G288 KWE is a 1989 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 18 October 1989.

Is G288 KWE safe to buy?

The MOT history for G288 KWE shows 19 tests with a 63.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does G288 KWE 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 G288 KWE. 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.