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G481 UHW

1989 Land Rover Defender

Beige Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires8 Oct 2027
Tests34 (22 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate64.7%

Mileage

58,923 mi
Last recorded58,923 miles
Recorded on14 Sep 2026
Typical for 1989 Land Rover Defender127,912 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationG481 UHW
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1989
ColourBeige
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

22 pass 12 fail
Pass 14 Sep 2026 58,923 miles
Pass 9 Oct 2025 56,816 miles
Pass 26 Sep 2024 53,221 miles

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

Fail 4 Sep 2024 53,108 miles

Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced rear cross member (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Offside Rear Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

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

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

Pass 18 Sep 2023 51,183 miles
Pass 18 Apr 2023 51,150 miles
Fail 17 Oct 2022 51,066 miles

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

Offside Vehicle structure is fractured and so weakened within 30cm of a towbar mounting, the towbar is likely to become detached (6.1.6 (i) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 25 Oct 2021 50,649 miles

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 22 Oct 2020 50,349 miles

Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Both front (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Slight play in steering damper bush

Pass 21 Oct 2019 49,985 miles

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

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Steering damper bush worn slightly

Pass 10 Oct 2018 49,046 miles
Fail 8 Oct 2018 49,041 miles

Offside Towbar is so weakened by corrosion within 30cm of a towbar mounting, the towbar is likely to become detached (6.1.6 (i) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 9 Oct 2017 47,316 miles
Pass 2 Nov 2016 45,310 miles
Fail 31 Oct 2016 45,304 miles

Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.2.C.1h)

Pass 12 Oct 2015 43,487 miles
Fail 12 Oct 2015 43,478 miles

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

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

Pass 31 Oct 2014 41,408 miles

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

Pass 4 Nov 2013 40,184 miles

steering damper bush has slight play

Fail 1 Nov 2013 40,167 miles

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

Headlamp switch faulty (1.7.1) DANGEROUS

steering damper bush has slight play

Pass 9 Oct 2012 38,770 miles
Fail 9 Oct 2012 38,264 miles

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

Pass 13 Oct 2011 37,682 miles

rubber boot on drop arm split

Fail 10 Oct 2011 37,677 miles

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

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

rubber boot on drop arm split

Pass 7 Oct 2010 34,576 miles
Fail 4 Oct 2010 34,570 miles

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Pass 2 Nov 2009 30,964 miles

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

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

Nearside Front front brake juddering slightly (3.7.A.2b)

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

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

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

Offside Front front brake juddering slightly (3.7.A.2b)

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

Offside inner track rod end joint cover split/missing

Pass 4 Nov 2008 25,787 miles

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

Fail 3 Nov 2008 25,785 miles

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

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

Pass 29 Oct 2007 24,944 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn shock absorber pivot (2.7.4)

Nearside outer track rod end joint cover split/missing

Offside Front Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

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

Offside Rear Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Offside inner track rod end joint cover split/missing

both rear tyres cracking.

Fail 29 Oct 2007 24,944 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn shock absorber pivot (2.7.4)

Nearside outer track rod end joint cover split/missing

Offside Front Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

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

Offside Rear Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Offside inner track rod end joint cover split/missing

both rear tyres cracking.

Pass 30 Oct 2006 22,101 miles
Fail 26 Oct 2006 22,101 miles

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

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

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

Offside Rear Body has slight displacement of the body relative to the chassis (6.1.B.1a)

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

rear wiper blade split and smeary

steering arm out of steering box joint boot split

Pass 3 Nov 2005 20,727 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

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

moderate play in n/s/f swivel hub suspension assembly.

n/s/r tyre moderately perished.

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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G481 UHW is a 1989 Land Rover Defender in Beige with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 34 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.7%.

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 G481 UHW, 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 G481 UHW?

You can check the full history of G481 UHW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was G481 UHW registered?

G481 UHW is a 1989 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 5 September 1989.

Is G481 UHW safe to buy?

The MOT history for G481 UHW shows 34 tests with a 64.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does G481 UHW 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 G481 UHW. 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.