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J5 UNT

1997 Land Rover Defender

Red Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires16 Aug 2026
Tests25 (18 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate72%

Mileage

112,457 mi
Last recorded112,457 miles
Recorded on8 Aug 2025
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
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationJ5 UNT
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

18 pass 7 fail
Pass 8 Aug 2025 112,457 miles
Pass 15 Aug 2024 110,630 miles
Pass 31 Jul 2023 109,527 miles

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

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly damaged (1.1.11 (c))

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

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

Fail 27 Jul 2023 109,527 miles

Central Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt The upper stabiliser arm (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

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

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly damaged (1.1.11 (c))

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

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

Pass 5 Aug 2022 108,737 miles
Fail 4 Aug 2022 108,735 miles

Nearside Rear Service brake effort inadequate at a wheel (1.2.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush excessively worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Service brake effort inadequate at a wheel (1.2.1 (a) (i))

Pass 17 Aug 2021 107,815 miles
Fail 9 Jan 2020 107,745 miles

Intermediate drop arm insecure (2.1.3 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush excessively worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 25 Jan 2019 104,514 miles
Fail 21 Jan 2019 104,513 miles

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

Nearside Front Axle swivel joint so worn or insecure in a stub axle that directional stability is impaired (5.1.2 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Axle swivel joint so worn or insecure in a stub axle that directional stability is impaired (5.1.2 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Nearside Front Fluid leak, but not excessive swivel hub seal (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 9 Jan 2018 101,286 miles

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

Fail 5 Jan 2018 101,286 miles

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

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

Offside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

Steering column universal joint has excessive play (2.1.5)

Power steering fluid level below minimum (2.3.1)

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

Pass 24 Jan 2017 97,675 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

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

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

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

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

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

Oil leak ()

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

o/s/r tyre perished

Fail 23 Jan 2017 97,675 miles

Ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt drop arm (2.2.C.1c)

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

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

Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded steering damper (2.2.C.1h)

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Oil leak ()

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

o/s/r tyre perished

Pass 29 Jan 2016 94,360 miles

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

Service brake only just meets minimum requirements

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

Fail 29 Jan 2016 94,360 miles

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Service brake only just meets minimum requirements

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

Pass 13 Dec 2014 91,585 miles

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Pass 19 Nov 2013 88,704 miles

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

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

Steering box has slight oil leak.

Pass 12 Dec 2012 84,636 miles
Pass 8 Dec 2010 76,372 miles
Pass 16 Dec 2009 72,494 miles
Pass 17 Dec 2008 68,182 miles

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

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

Power steering pump has slight seepage from a seal (2.3.3b)

Pass 10 Dec 2007 64,592 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Power steering pump has slight seepage from a seal (2.3.3b)

Rear Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 8 Dec 2006 61,235 miles
Pass 24 Nov 2005 57,179 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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J5 UNT is a 1997 Land Rover Defender in Red with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72%.

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 J5 UNT, 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 J5 UNT?

You can check the full history of J5 UNT by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J5 UNT registered?

J5 UNT is a 1997 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 6 August 1997.

Is J5 UNT safe to buy?

The MOT history for J5 UNT shows 25 tests with a 72% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J5 UNT 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 J5 UNT. 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.