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H5 MLA

1998 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires19 Dec 2026
Tests32 (21 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate65.6%

Mileage

177,543 mi
Last recorded177,543 miles
Recorded on17 Dec 2025
Typical for 1998 Land Rover Defender110,057 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationH5 MLA
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1998
ColourGreen
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 11 fail
Pass 17 Dec 2025 177,543 miles

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

Front Wheel bearing has slight play both sides (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

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

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

Rear Wheel bearing has slight play both sides (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 20 Dec 2024 177,085 miles

Central Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front body corroded

Pass 28 Feb 2024 176,350 miles

Central Front Steering arm deformed but serviceable slightly bent (2.1.3 (c) (i))

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

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases flexible section (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement panard rod bushes (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play front (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Steering linkage ball joint has slight play steering box drop arm (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Pass 24 Feb 2023 169,657 miles
Pass 1 Jan 2022 165,399 miles

Coolant leak ()

Nearside Front Passenger floor pan corroded

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement front bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Oil leak, but not excessive Axle (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Oil leak, but not excessive Axle (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Fail 8 Dec 2021 165,398 miles

Battery insecure and likely to fall from carrier (4.13 (a) (ii))

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

Fuel tank leaking (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced under seat (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Seat belt buckle damaged (7.1.2 (d))

Nearside Rear Position lamp showing white light to the rear (4.2.3 (a) (ii))

Power steering component leaking (2.1.5 (a))

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

Coolant leak ()

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

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

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Front wheel arch corroded passenger foot well

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement trailing arm front bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Nail in tyre ()

Offside Rear half shaft seal leaking

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

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

Pass 11 Dec 2020 160,111 miles

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

Pass 25 Nov 2019 155,923 miles

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

Pass 6 Dec 2018 148,948 miles
Fail 3 Dec 2018 148,948 miles

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

Pass 12 Dec 2017 142,128 miles

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

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

Oil leak ()

Fail 5 Dec 2017 142,128 miles

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

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

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

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

Oil leak ()

Pass 22 Nov 2016 135,753 miles
Pass 7 Dec 2015 127,554 miles
Fail 3 Dec 2015 127,554 miles

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

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

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

Pass 17 Nov 2014 121,477 miles

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

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

the nut on the rear of the front too rear brake pipe is heavily corroded

Fail 11 Nov 2014 121,477 miles

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

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

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

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

the nut on the rear of the front too rear brake pipe is heavily corroded

Pass 28 Nov 2013 114,806 miles

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

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

Fail 26 Nov 2013 114,806 miles

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

Nearside Rear Radius arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Radius arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

Pass 7 Dec 2012 108,347 miles

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

Oil leak

Rear Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Steering damper slightly corroded but serviceable (2.2.C.1d)

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

Pass 15 Nov 2011 101,891 miles
Fail 15 Nov 2011 101,891 miles

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 11 Nov 2010 95,288 miles
Fail 10 Nov 2010 95,280 miles

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

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

Pass 18 Nov 2009 88,329 miles
Fail 17 Nov 2009 88,321 miles

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

Pass 20 Nov 2008 81,401 miles
Pass 1 Mar 2008 74,521 miles

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

Pass 24 Feb 2007 66,023 miles
Fail 20 Feb 2007 66,023 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

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

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

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

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

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

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

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

Offside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

Pass 17 Feb 2006 59,590 miles
Fail 16 Feb 2006 59,590 miles

Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Nearside Front Axle king pin has excessive play in pin and/or bush adversely affecting the steering (2.5.A.3a)

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

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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H5 MLA is a 1998 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 32 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65.6%.

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 H5 MLA, 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 H5 MLA?

You can check the full history of H5 MLA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was H5 MLA registered?

H5 MLA is a 1998 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 28 August 1998.

Is H5 MLA safe to buy?

The MOT history for H5 MLA shows 32 tests with a 65.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does H5 MLA 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 H5 MLA. 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.