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J31 DEF

1997 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires15 Dec 2023
Tests25 (17 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate68%

Mileage

41,845 mi
Last recorded41,845 miles
Recorded on21 Nov 2022
Typical for 1997 Land Rover Defender117,879 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationJ31 DEF
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

17 pass 8 fail
Pass 21 Nov 2022 41,845 miles
Pass 17 Nov 2021 41,719 miles
Fail 11 Nov 2021 41,719 miles

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

Nearside Rear Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake servo defective or ineffective (1.1.10 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn triangle bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 16 Dec 2020 41,405 miles

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

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

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

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

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

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

Under Body Steering,Suspension And Brake Components Corroded

Pass 4 Dec 2019 40,434 miles

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

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

Under Body Steering,Suspension And Brake Components Corroded

Pass 12 Dec 2018 40,298 miles

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

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

Offside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Parking Brake Lever Has Little Reserve Travel

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material On Axle (1.1.11 (c))

UnderBody Steering,Suspension and Brake Components Corroded

Pass 23 Nov 2017 40,261 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear reflector slightly damaged but function not impaired (1.5.1c)

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

Offside Rear reflector slightly damaged but function not impaired (1.5.1c)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Under Body Components Corroded

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

Pass 24 Nov 2016 39,711 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Nail in tyre ()

Nearside Rear reflector slightly damaged but function not impaired (1.5.1c)

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

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

Offside Rear reflector slightly damaged but function not impaired (1.5.1c)

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

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

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

Fail 2 Nov 2016 39,693 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Rear Torque/reaction arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt A-frame ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Nearside Front Radius arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Nail in tyre ()

Nearside Rear reflector slightly damaged but function not impaired (1.5.1c)

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

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

Offside Rear reflector slightly damaged but function not impaired (1.5.1c)

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

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

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

Pass 22 Oct 2014 37,383 miles
Pass 31 Oct 2013 36,798 miles

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

Fail 28 Oct 2013 36,786 miles

Front passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

Offside Rear position lamp(s) incorrect colour (1.1.A.3e)

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

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Pass 25 Oct 2012 36,104 miles

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

Nearside Rear reflector slightly damaged but function not impaired (1.5.1c)

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

Offside Rear reflector slightly damaged but function not impaired (1.5.1c)

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Fail 25 Oct 2012 36,104 miles

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

Nearside Rear reflector slightly damaged but function not impaired (1.5.1c)

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

Offside Rear position lamp(s) incorrect colour (1.1.A.3e)

Offside Rear reflector slightly damaged but function not impaired (1.5.1c)

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

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Pass 18 Oct 2011 35,822 miles

Nail in nearside rear tyre

Fail 17 Oct 2011 35,822 miles

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

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

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

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

Nail in nearside rear tyre

Pass 28 Oct 2010 35,195 miles

rear crossmember rusty

Pass 2 Nov 2009 34,424 miles
Fail 29 Oct 2009 34,424 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Rear reflector missing (1.5.1a)

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

Fail 29 Oct 2009 34,424 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Rear reflector missing (1.5.1a)

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

N/S/F door mirror cracked

Pass 5 Nov 2008 33,102 miles

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

Non obligatory mirror damaged

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

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

Pass 30 Oct 2007 32,091 miles
Pass 26 Oct 2006 30,848 miles
Fail 26 Oct 2006 30,848 miles

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

Non obligatory mirror damaged

Pass 24 Oct 2005 29,450 miles

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

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

n/s rear reflector damaged

non obligatory mirror damaged

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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J31 DEF is a 1997 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68%.

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 J31 DEF, 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 J31 DEF?

You can check the full history of J31 DEF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J31 DEF registered?

J31 DEF is a 1997 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 8 January 1997.

Is J31 DEF safe to buy?

The MOT history for J31 DEF shows 25 tests with a 68% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J31 DEF 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 J31 DEF. 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.