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G8 SDW

1997 Land Rover Defender

Red Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires9 Jul 2027
Tests33 (22 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

119,572 mi
Last recorded119,572 miles
Recorded on22 Jun 2026
Typical for 1997 Land Rover Defender117,879 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationG8 SDW
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1997
ColourRed
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 11 fail
Pass 22 Jun 2026 119,572 miles

Coil spring corroded all 4 springs corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Fail 22 Jun 2026 119,572 miles

Coil spring corroded all 4 springs corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Pass 5 Jul 2025 118,242 miles

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

Fail 4 Jul 2025 118,229 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 21 Jun 2024 117,351 miles

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play Rear Ball Joint (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Steering box leaking oil (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Pass 10 Jul 2023 115,985 miles

Nearside Front Hub seal slightly leaking

Nearside Rear Hub seal slightly leaking

Offside Front Hub seal slightly leaking

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play Rear (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Fail 10 Jul 2023 115,985 miles

Nearside Front Hub seal slightly leaking

Nearside Rear Hub seal slightly leaking

Offside Front Hub seal slightly leaking

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play Rear (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 1 Jul 2022 113,022 miles
Pass 9 Jul 2021 110,794 miles

Coil spring corroded both rear (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Fail 8 Jul 2021 110,785 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases middle part (6.1.2 (a))

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

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Offside Front Seat belt webbing significantly weakened (7.1.2 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Steering linkage likely to become detached steering arm ball joint (2.1.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Coil spring corroded both rear (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Pass 9 Jul 2020 109,336 miles

Offside Front Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

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

Pass 3 Jul 2019 107,900 miles

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

Pass 5 Jul 2018 103,308 miles

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

Offside Front Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

Slight oil leak

Pass 3 Jul 2017 99,706 miles

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

Fail 3 Jul 2017 99,706 miles

Headlamp switch faulty (1.7.1)

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

Pass 5 Jul 2016 96,572 miles

Front Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Oil leak

Pass 8 Jul 2015 92,540 miles

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

Offside Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Pass 1 Dec 2014 85,977 miles

Ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Pass 5 Dec 2013 82,640 miles
Pass 31 Jul 2013 82,610 miles

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

slight play in drop arm joint

Pass 29 Sep 2012 75,448 miles

Front diff oil seal leaking

Oil seal retaining ring on swivel housing N/S & O/S corroded

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 25 Sep 2012 75,448 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

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

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Engine oil top up by 1.5ltr 10/40

Front diff oil seal leaking

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

O/S/F tyre pressure low

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

Oil filter leaking

Oil seal retaining ring on swivel housing N/S & O/S corroded

Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 5 Oct 2011 63,058 miles

Battery light on

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

Oil leak

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 5 Oct 2011 63,058 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Lower Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

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

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Battery light on

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

Oil leak

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 16 Jul 2010 51,123 miles
Fail 13 Jul 2010 51,112 miles

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

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

Fail 8 Jul 2010 51,019 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Both swivel housing seal securing ring in poor condition

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

Chassis in poor condition

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

Nearside rear tyre under inflated

Offside front side light dim

Offside side repeater insecure

Pass 9 Jul 2009 43,895 miles

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

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

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 8 Jul 2009 43,895 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

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

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

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

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 15 Jul 2008 38,780 miles

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

Fail 11 Jul 2008 38,780 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 20 Jul 2007 34,511 miles
Pass 6 Dec 2005 28,705 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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G8 SDW is a 1997 Land Rover Defender in Red with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 33 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

Across all 1997 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.5% with a typical mileage of 117,879 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 G8 SDW, 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 29 years old, this Land Rover Defender is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of G8 SDW?

You can check the full history of G8 SDW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was G8 SDW registered?

G8 SDW is a 1997 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 15 December 1997.

Is G8 SDW safe to buy?

The MOT history for G8 SDW shows 33 tests with a 66.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does G8 SDW 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 G8 SDW. 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.