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H12 MEJ

1998 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires6 Jan 2027
Tests36 (21 pass, 15 fail)
Pass rate58.3%

Mileage

177,713 mi
Last recorded177,713 miles
Recorded on6 Jan 2026
Typical for 1998 Land Rover Defender110,057 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationH12 MEJ
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1998
ColourBlue
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

21 pass 15 fail
Pass 6 Jan 2026 177,713 miles

rear prop shaft has play in the rear universal joint.

Fail 6 Jan 2026 177,713 miles

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Windscreen wiper not working (3.4 (a))

rear prop shaft has play in the rear universal joint.

Pass 18 Dec 2024 169,361 miles

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

Fail 17 Dec 2024 169,341 miles

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing play so excessive it is likely to break up (5.1.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Pass 7 Dec 2023 167,235 miles
Pass 14 Dec 2022 163,306 miles

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

Fail 13 Dec 2022 163,285 miles

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

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

Offside Steering linkage ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Vehicle structure excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.1.6 (i) (i))

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

Pass 22 Dec 2021 160,002 miles
Fail 20 Dec 2021 159,984 miles

Central Rear Suspension component ball joint excessively worn over axle (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Steering linkage ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 15 Dec 2020 156,753 miles
Fail 14 Dec 2020 156,734 miles

Central Steering component deformed (2.1.3 (c) (i))

Front Registration plate inscription illegible (0.1 (b))

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

Rear Registration plate inscription illegible (0.1 (b))

Pass 10 Dec 2019 153,418 miles
Pass 11 Dec 2018 148,916 miles
Fail 10 Dec 2018 148,898 miles

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

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

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

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

Nearside 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

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

Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 20 Dec 2017 144,206 miles
Fail 18 Dec 2017 144,188 miles

Central Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases box (7.1.2)

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

Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded going to rear (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

Pass 20 Dec 2016 139,508 miles
Fail 20 Dec 2016 139,471 miles

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

Nearside Front Torque/reaction arm has a deteriorated rubber bush resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 14 Dec 2015 134,749 miles
Fail 14 Dec 2015 134,711 miles

Headlamp switch faulty (1.7.1)

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

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

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

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

Pass 16 Dec 2014 128,952 miles

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

Fail 16 Dec 2014 128,926 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Pass 17 Dec 2013 121,788 miles
Pass 13 Dec 2012 115,439 miles
Fail 13 Dec 2012 115,421 miles

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

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

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

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

Prop-shaft universal joint worn

Pass 16 Dec 2011 110,315 miles

Nearside Front Torque/reaction arm has a slightly deteriorated rubber bush (2.4.G.2)

Fail 16 Dec 2011 110,277 miles

Centre Registration plate lamp shows direct white light to the rear (1.1.C.1f)

Headlamp switch insecure (1.7.1)

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

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

Nearside Front Torque/reaction arm has a slightly deteriorated rubber bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 21 Dec 2010 104,014 miles
Fail 20 Dec 2010 103,975 miles

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

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

Rear fog lamp emits a light other than red (1.3.2e)

Registration plate lamp shows direct white light to the rear (1.1.C.1f)

Pass 18 Dec 2009 99,012 miles
Fail 18 Dec 2009 98,981 miles

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear reflector missing (1.5.1a)

Pass 10 Dec 2008 92,259 miles
Pass 7 Jan 2008 86,105 miles
Pass 19 Dec 2006 78,459 miles
Fail 19 Dec 2006 78,446 miles

Rear Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2) DANGEROUS

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

Pass 29 Dec 2005 70,474 miles

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

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

check tyre pressures

propshaft defective

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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H12 MEJ is a 1998 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 36 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 58.3%.

Across all 1998 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.3% with a typical mileage of 110,057 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 H12 MEJ, 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 28 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 H12 MEJ?

You can check the full history of H12 MEJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was H12 MEJ registered?

H12 MEJ is a 1998 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 31 December 1998.

Is H12 MEJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for H12 MEJ shows 36 tests with a 58.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does H12 MEJ 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 H12 MEJ. 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.