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G849 ESM

1989 Land Rover Defender

Grey Petrol 3898cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires5 Apr 2026
Tests14 (8 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate57.1%

Mileage

152,538 mi
Last recorded152,538 miles
Recorded on26 Jun 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

RegistrationG849 ESM
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1989
ColourGrey
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,898cc

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

8 pass 6 fail
Fail 26 Jun 2026 152,538 miles

Bonnet cannot be secured in the closed position (3.1 (b) (i))

Emissions unable to be completed due to engine over heating (8.2.1.2 (d))

Front Windscreen washer jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen (3.5 (a))

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

Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

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

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

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

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick inner pad (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Hydraulic leak, but not excessive steering box (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

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

steering notchy on lock

Pass 6 Apr 2025 150,454 miles

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box washed (2.1.5 (a))

Fail 6 Apr 2025 150,454 miles

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box washed (2.1.5 (a))

Rear Prop shaft securing bolt loose g/box uj (6.1.7 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment rear (2.1.3 (b) (ii))

Pass 29 Jan 2024 141,569 miles

this vehicle has been modified for off road use

Pass 13 Jan 2023 129,804 miles

Nearside Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

panard rod bush has slight wear

Pass 30 Dec 2021 126,907 miles
Pass 12 Mar 2015 118,706 miles
Fail 12 Mar 2015 118,706 miles

Bonnet cannot be secured in the closed position (8.4.1)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

Oil leak

o/s/r hud damp

Pass 5 Mar 2014 109,405 miles
Fail 26 Feb 2014 109,376 miles

Driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism not functioning as intended. (6.2.A.3)

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

Nearside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

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

Nearside 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 Brake pipe inadequately clipped (3.6.B.1)

Offside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Offside Front Seat belt has a cut which has significantly weakened the webbing (5.2.2a)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1b)

Pass 26 Feb 2013 97,596 miles

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

Fail 26 Feb 2013 97,596 miles

Hazard warning tell tale not working correctly (1.4.B.1e)

Nearside 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 Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle (4.1.D.2)

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

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

Offside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle (4.1.D.2)

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

Pass 18 Mar 2008 96,334 miles

Front brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

vehicle has had extensive welding

Fail 15 Mar 2008

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Front Brake pipe seriously damaged (found during steering lock to lock check) (2.2.D.2b)

Offside Front Brake pipe seriously damaged (found during steering lock to lock check) (2.2.D.2b)

Front brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

vehicle has had extensive welding

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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G849 ESM is a 1989 Land Rover Defender in Grey with a 3,898cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 14 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 57.1%.

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 G849 ESM, 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 G849 ESM?

You can check the full history of G849 ESM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was G849 ESM registered?

G849 ESM is a 1989 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 30 November 1989.

Is G849 ESM safe to buy?

The MOT history for G849 ESM shows 14 tests with a 57.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does G849 ESM 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 G849 ESM. 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.