CarVerify

Free Car Check

JON 518

1997 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2495cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 Jan 2027
Tests27 (19 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate70.4%

Mileage

82,192 mi
Last recorded82,192 miles
Recorded on2 Jan 2026
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
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationJON 518
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

19 pass 8 fail
Pass 2 Jan 2026 82,192 miles

Coil spring corroded All springs (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

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

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated upper tie bar (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Fail 2 Jan 2026 82,192 miles

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

Coil spring corroded All springs (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

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

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated upper tie bar (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 11 Oct 2024 77,727 miles

Coil spring corroded All springs (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

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

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 12 Oct 2023 74,929 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

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

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 24 Oct 2022 71,272 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Fail 24 Oct 2022 71,272 miles

Fluid leak harmful to the environment or a risk to other road users return pipe (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

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

Nearside Front Tyre tread pattern not visible over the whole tread area when minimum depth required is 1.0mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

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

Nearside Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 6 Sep 2021 66,956 miles

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

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

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

Fail 6 Sep 2021 66,956 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

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

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

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

Pass 2 Oct 2019 63,884 miles
Pass 13 Sep 2018 62,426 miles
Fail 12 Sep 2018 62,426 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))

Indicator switch inoperative (4.4.2 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorbers insecurely attached bush (5.3.2 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorbers insecurely attached bush (5.3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 20 Sep 2017 61,099 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Fail 20 Sep 2017 61,099 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 14 Sep 2016 57,687 miles
Fail 7 Sep 2016 57,687 miles

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

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

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Front prop shaft UJ collapsed

Pass 6 Mar 2015 49,825 miles
Pass 25 Feb 2014 48,673 miles
Pass 27 Mar 2013 47,556 miles
Fail 26 Mar 2013 47,539 miles

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)

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

Pass 16 Mar 2012 46,120 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Pass 23 Mar 2011 44,722 miles
Pass 23 Mar 2010 43,106 miles

Nearside outer track rod end joint cover split/missing

Pass 27 Mar 2009 41,285 miles
Pass 19 Mar 2008 39,230 miles
Fail 18 Mar 2008 39,226 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose leaking (3.6.A.1) DANGEROUS

Pass 6 Mar 2007 35,777 miles
Pass 14 Mar 2006 32,776 miles

cuts in all tyre treads

wear in rear shock absorber upper bushes

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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

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.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

JON 518 is a 1997 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 70.4%.

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 JON 518, 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 JON 518?

You can check the full history of JON 518 by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was JON 518 registered?

JON 518 is a 1997 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is JON 518 safe to buy?

The MOT history for JON 518 shows 27 tests with a 70.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does JON 518 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 JON 518. 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.