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J1 FFT

1997 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires11 Jan 2027
Tests26 (19 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate73.1%

Mileage

254,784 mi
Last recorded254,784 miles
Recorded on12 Jan 2026
Typical for 1997 Land Rover Defender117,879 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationJ1 FFT
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1997
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

19 pass 7 fail
Pass 12 Jan 2026 254,784 miles

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

Nearside Rear Direction indicator slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (4.4.3 (b))

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

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

Offside Rear Direction indicator slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (4.4.3 (b))

Fail 9 Jan 2026 254,779 miles

Offside Front Floor excessively deteriorated near to body mount (6.2.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

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

Steering box has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering box fitted) (2.3 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Direction indicator slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (4.4.3 (b))

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

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

Offside Rear Direction indicator slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (4.4.3 (b))

Pass 6 Jan 2025 247,568 miles

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

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

slight play in steering damper bush

Pass 8 Jan 2024 240,921 miles

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Fail 5 Jan 2024 240,904 miles

Offside Front Suspension rod pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 4 Jan 2023 233,975 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 5 Jan 2022 227,175 miles

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

Offside Front Suspension rod pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive chassis (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Rear Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively (6.1.7 (c) (i))

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 7 Jan 2021 220,110 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 16 Dec 2019 211,895 miles
Pass 5 Dec 2018 202,309 miles

Brake master cylinder/servo mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (1.1.21 (e) (i))

Drag link end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Pass 6 Dec 2017 193,296 miles
Pass 12 Dec 2016 184,757 miles

oil leak

Fail 12 Dec 2016 184,738 miles

Offside Front Brake pipe kinked (3.6.B.2b)

oil leak

Pass 17 Dec 2015 175,194 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

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

Fail 9 Dec 2015 175,039 miles

Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Front Axle swivel joint has excessive play in a swivel pin (2.5.A.3b)

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Front Seat belt stitching badly frayed (5.2.2b)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

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

Pass 16 Dec 2014 164,093 miles

Nail in nearside rear tyre

Oil leak

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

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

Fail 12 Dec 2014 164,093 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Nail in nearside rear tyre

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

Oil leak

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

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

Pass 4 Dec 2013 151,886 miles
Fail 2 Dec 2013 151,838 miles

Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a non-turbo charged engine (7.4.B.3b)

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

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

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

Pass 12 Dec 2012 142,430 miles
Pass 19 Dec 2011 132,807 miles

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 20 Dec 2010 126,912 miles

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

front brake discs pitted

rear wish bone top ball joint has slight play

Pass 28 Apr 2008 124,423 miles

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

Pass 17 May 2007 114,329 miles
Fail 17 May 2007 114,329 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too far to the right (1.8)

Pass 11 May 2006 103,263 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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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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J1 FFT is a 1997 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 73.1%.

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 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 J1 FFT, 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 J1 FFT?

You can check the full history of J1 FFT by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J1 FFT registered?

J1 FFT is a 1997 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 3 October 1997.

Is J1 FFT safe to buy?

The MOT history for J1 FFT shows 26 tests with a 73.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J1 FFT 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 J1 FFT. 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.