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J90 MTF

1997 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires12 Jun 2027
Tests31 (22 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate71%

Mileage

165,970 mi
Last recorded165,970 miles
Recorded on22 May 2026
Typical for 1997 Land Rover Defender117,879 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationJ90 MTF
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1997
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

22 pass 9 fail
Pass 22 May 2026 165,970 miles
Pass 14 May 2025 164,053 miles
Pass 10 Jun 2024 161,779 miles
Pass 2 Jun 2023 159,023 miles
Pass 19 May 2022 158,114 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))

Pass 2 Jun 2021 157,272 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))

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

Fail 28 May 2021 157,271 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

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

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

Offside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 4 Jun 2020 156,614 miles

Offside Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 6 Jun 2019 155,959 miles
Pass 13 Jun 2018 154,586 miles
Fail 13 Jun 2018 154,584 miles

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

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

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 19 May 2017 150,979 miles
Pass 27 May 2016 147,076 miles
Fail 25 May 2016 147,076 miles

Fuel pipe leaking Leak off pipes (7.2.3)

Offside Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Axle ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Front prop front uj slight play

Rear prop rear uj slight play

Pass 12 May 2015 141,603 miles
Pass 5 Jun 2014 138,150 miles
Fail 4 Jun 2014 138,150 miles

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

Nearside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 24 May 2013 135,392 miles
Fail 23 May 2013 135,391 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Passenger's seat insecure (6.2.A.1)

Offside Front Ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Pass 18 Jul 2012 132,237 miles

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

Pass 21 Jul 2011 130,661 miles
Fail 21 Jul 2011 130,661 miles

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 16 Jul 2010 128,992 miles
Fail 14 Jul 2010 128,992 miles

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

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

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

Fail 5 Aug 2009 127,074 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too far to the right (1.8)

Pass 5 Aug 2009 127,074 miles
Pass 7 Aug 2008 123,719 miles
Fail 6 Aug 2008 123,718 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

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

Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

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

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

slight wear in rear prop shaft u/j

Pass 30 Aug 2007 119,214 miles

Front Intermediate drop arm deformed but serviceable (2.2.C.1d)

Pass 17 Aug 2006 102,625 miles
Pass 23 Aug 2005 92,082 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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J90 MTF is a 1997 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71%.

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 J90 MTF, 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 J90 MTF?

You can check the full history of J90 MTF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J90 MTF registered?

J90 MTF is a 1997 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 28 August 1997.

Is J90 MTF safe to buy?

The MOT history for J90 MTF shows 31 tests with a 71% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J90 MTF 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 J90 MTF. 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.