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KDZ 1398

1989 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires15 Jun 2027
Tests28 (18 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate64.3%

Mileage

121,319 mi
Last recorded121,319 miles
Recorded on27 May 2026
Typical for 1989 Land Rover Defender127,912 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Finance
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationKDZ 1398
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1989
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

18 pass 10 fail
Pass 27 May 2026 121,319 miles

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

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

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

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 Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

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

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

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

Fail 27 May 2026 121,317 miles

Nearside Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded Outer Chassis area. (2.1.2 (e) (i))

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

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

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

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 Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

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

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

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

Pass 13 Jun 2025 120,509 miles

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

Nearside Front Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

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

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 Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Steering linkage ball joint has slight play drop arm (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Fail 12 Jun 2025 120,507 miles

Power steering component leaking Steering box (2.1.5 (a))

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

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

Nearside Front Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

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

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 Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Steering linkage ball joint has slight play drop arm (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 7 Jun 2024 119,037 miles

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

Steering box has seepage (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Fail 5 Jun 2024 119,036 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low cannot be adjusted (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Brake disc contaminated (1.1.14 (b))

Offside Front Brake pad(s) contaminated (1.1.13 (b))

Offside Headlamp aim too low cannot be adjusted (4.1.2 (a))

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

Intermediate drop arm insecure to the extent there is excessive movement at the mountings steering box arm (2.1.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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))

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

Steering box has seepage (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Pass 5 Jun 2023 117,268 miles
Pass 16 Jun 2022 115,302 miles

Advise washer switch and o/s/f wiper arm loose

Pass 29 Sep 2021 115,100 miles

Fluid leak, but not excessive Front axle (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Headlamp reflector slightly defective Both, image clarity slightly effected (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

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

Fail 28 Sep 2021 115,088 miles

Front Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements Damaged, reflective border missing (0.1 (d))

Nearside Rear Service brake excessively binding wheel bearing not fully tested (1.2.1 (f))

Fluid leak, but not excessive Front axle (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Headlamp reflector slightly defective Both, image clarity slightly effected (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

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

Pass 14 Aug 2019 114,865 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Stop lamp(s) lens defective which has no effect on emitted light (4.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Pass 14 Aug 2018 114,638 miles

both front tractor joints slight misting of oil

n/s front foot well slight corroded

o/s front brake pipe poor condition

o/s front foot well been repaired

o/s rear body mount slight corroded

Pass 12 May 2017 113,880 miles

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

Offside Front Ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt arm on steering box (2.2.C.1c)

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

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

Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

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

chassis rails have light corrosion

Pass 7 May 2016 113,294 miles
Pass 28 Nov 2014 111,183 miles

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

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

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

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

front to rear brake pipe corroded

nsr chassis corroded

osf brake pipe corroded

Fail 17 Nov 2014 111,179 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

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

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

front to rear brake pipe corroded

nsr chassis corroded

osf brake pipe corroded

Pass 19 Nov 2013 109,376 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

front and rear chassis corroded

front radius arm bushes worn

front steering drop arm ball joint cover deteriorated

osr half shaft oil seal leaking

rear brake pipe corroded

Pass 26 Nov 2012 108,239 miles

diesel smell and residue in engine bay

front panhard rod bushes worn

front radius arm bushes worn

nsf tyre worn close to limit

osf seat belt damaged

Pass 22 Nov 2011 107,381 miles
Fail 16 Nov 2011 107,381 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

front seat belts damaged

various brake pipes corroded

Pass 25 Oct 2010 106,865 miles
Fail 18 Oct 2010 106,865 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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

Pass 5 May 2009 104,742 miles
Fail 30 Apr 2009 104,742 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Brake master cylinder/servo mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (3.6.C.3)

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

front seat belts frayed

Pass 1 May 2008 102,799 miles
Fail 1 May 2008 102,799 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 10 May 2007 98,947 miles
Fail 1 May 2007 98,947 miles

Nearside Direction indicators not working (1.4.A.2c)

Nearside Front brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Front brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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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KDZ 1398 is a 1989 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.3%.

Across all 1989 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.8% with a typical mileage of 127,912 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 KDZ 1398, 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 37 years old, this Land Rover Defender is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of KDZ 1398?

You can check the full history of KDZ 1398 by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was KDZ 1398 registered?

KDZ 1398 is a 1989 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 31 December 1989.

Is KDZ 1398 safe to buy?

The MOT history for KDZ 1398 shows 28 tests with a 64.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does KDZ 1398 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 KDZ 1398. 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.