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G488 GVG

1989 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires29 Nov 2026
Tests23 (19 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate82.6%

Mileage

137,353 mi
Last recorded137,353 miles
Recorded on25 Nov 2025
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
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationG488 GVG
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1989
ColourBlue
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,495cc

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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 4 fail
Pass 25 Nov 2025 137,353 miles

O/S/F outrigger becoming corroded

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

Offside Rear Fuel tank slightly loose (6.1.3 (a) (i))

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

complete underbody heavily covered in underseal

Pass 6 Nov 2024 136,559 miles
Fail 6 Nov 2024 136,559 miles

Offside Front Brake hose excessively damaged (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Pass 23 Nov 2023 130,048 miles
Pass 23 Nov 2022 135,727 miles
Pass 16 Nov 2021 135,279 miles

Offside Front Brake hose slightly damaged perishing (1.1.12 (b) (i))

Pass 30 Nov 2020 134,798 miles

O/S/F outrigger becoming corroded.

Fail 26 Nov 2020 134,764 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength inner chassis (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion to the extent that overall security or stability of the body is impaired outrigger (6.2.2 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

O/S/F outrigger becoming corroded.

Pass 19 Nov 2019 133,933 miles

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

Fail 14 Nov 2019 133,907 miles

Nearside Front Drag link end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

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

Pass 29 Nov 2018 132,159 miles

slight play in steering column u/j

Pass 21 Apr 2016 131,687 miles

both front tyres worn close to limit

front numberplate deteriorated

oil leak

Pass 9 Feb 2015 128,936 miles
Pass 7 Feb 2014 127,266 miles

BOTH FRONT TYRES CLOSE TO WEAR LIMITS.

Pass 23 Jan 2013 126,239 miles

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

Pass 30 Jan 2012 123,223 miles

battery tray corroded.n/s/f draglink end rubber dust cover perished.

Pass 10 Feb 2011 119,973 miles
Pass 26 Jan 2010 118,552 miles
Pass 2 Feb 2009 117,084 miles

slight play in rear axle ball joint// rear trailing arms have slight play in bushes

Pass 24 Jan 2008 115,864 miles
Pass 26 Oct 2006 113,754 miles
Fail 11 Oct 2006 113,683 miles

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

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

Offside Front Fuel system component insecure (7.2.1)

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

Offside Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated (8.2.2)

Pass 22 Oct 2005 110,047 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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G488 GVG is a 1989 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 82.6%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 G488 GVG, 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 G488 GVG?

You can check the full history of G488 GVG by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was G488 GVG registered?

G488 GVG is a 1989 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 8 August 1989.

Is G488 GVG safe to buy?

The MOT history for G488 GVG shows 23 tests with a 82.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does G488 GVG 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 G488 GVG. 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.