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L397 VBX

1993 Land Rover Defender

Grey Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires12 Mar 2027
Tests28 (16 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate57.1%

Mileage

109,731 mi
Last recorded109,731 miles
Recorded on13 Mar 2026
Typical for 1993 Land Rover Defender118,574 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

RegistrationL397 VBX
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1993
ColourGrey
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

16 pass 12 fail
Pass 13 Mar 2026 109,731 miles
Fail 28 Feb 2026 109,728 miles

Speedometer clearly inoperative (7.8 (b) (ii))

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Pass 13 Sep 2024 109,728 miles
Fail 5 Sep 2024 109,728 miles

Nearside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Nearside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Offside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Offside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 18 Aug 2023 109,728 miles

Front Steering box leaking oil (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Offside Front Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

Fail 18 Aug 2023 109,728 miles

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamps (4.7.2 (a))

Front Steering box leaking oil (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Offside Front Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

Fail 16 Feb 2023 109,728 miles

Fuel system component leaking fuel pump (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Suspension arm insecurely attached front lower arm bolt (5.3.3 (a) (i))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Electrical wiring inadequately secured (4.11 (a) (i))

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

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

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

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

oil leak at gearbox/ brake back plate

Fail 18 Oct 2022 109,728 miles

Brake drum contaminated hand brake drum (1.1.14 (b))

Fuel system component leaking no 1 injector (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Rear fog lamp missing (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Nearside Front Seat belt likely to become detached in the event of a collision (7.1.1 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed cracked to cords (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Electrical wiring inadequately secured (4.11 (a) (i))

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

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

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

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

Registration plate lamp throwing direct white light to the rear (4.7.1 (a))

Pass 22 Dec 2020 109,728 miles

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

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

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

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))

gearbox has a small oil leak

osf and nsf hub seals slight misting of oil

osf and nsf outer tyre walls cracking no ply or cords is expossed

osr and nsr hub seals slight misting of oil

osr and nsr outer tyre walls cracking no ply or cord is expossed

rear diff upper joint rubber worn

underside has light surface corrotion

underside in a dirty muddy condition

Fail 19 Dec 2020 109,728 miles

Front Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

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

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively osf and nsf (3.4 (b) (ii))

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

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

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

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))

gearbox has a small oil leak

osf and nsf hub seals slight misting of oil

osf and nsf outer tyre walls cracking no ply or cords is expossed

osr and nsr hub seals slight misting of oil

osr and nsr outer tyre walls cracking no ply or cord is expossed

rear diff upper joint rubber worn

underside has light surface corrotion

underside in a dirty muddy condition

Pass 7 Nov 2019 109,728 miles

ALL TYRE WALLS CRACKING

NSF AND OSF HUB SEALS LEAKING

Nearside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

OSR AND NSR HUB SEALS LEAKING

Offside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Fail 7 Nov 2019 109,728 miles

ALL TYRE WALLS CRACKING

NSF AND OSF HUB SEALS LEAKING

Nearside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

OSR AND NSR HUB SEALS LEAKING

Offside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Rear Prop shaft likely to become detached (6.1.7 (a) (ii))

Pass 23 Nov 2018 109,728 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))

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

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

Pass 24 Nov 2017 109,728 miles

Osr nsr osf nsf tyres cracking

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

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

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

Oil leak (Engine) ()

Fail 24 Nov 2017 109,728 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

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

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

Oil leak (Engine) ()

Osr nsr osf nsf tyres cracking

Pass 3 Dec 2015 107,525 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)

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)

Fail 3 Dec 2015 107,525 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

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)

Offside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

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)

Pass 14 Nov 2012 103,543 miles
Pass 8 Mar 2012 96,318 miles
Fail 28 Feb 2012 96,276 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Coil spring mounting corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.C.3c) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Coil spring mounting corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.C.3c) DANGEROUS

Pass 28 Apr 2011 95,333 miles

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

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

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

Fail 27 Apr 2011 95,333 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Rear Brake pipe inadequately clipped (3.6.B.1)

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

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

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

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

Pass 7 May 2010 92,363 miles
Pass 1 May 2009 91,548 miles
Pass 8 May 2008 90,340 miles

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

Fail 28 Apr 2008 90,312 miles

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

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

Pass 28 Apr 2007 85,600 miles

nearside headlight glass cracked

screen washer switch not returning correctly

turbo heat shield loose

Pass 19 Apr 2006 78,834 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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L397 VBX is a 1993 Land Rover Defender in Grey with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 57.1%.

Across all 1993 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.8% with a typical mileage of 118,574 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 L397 VBX, 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 33 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 L397 VBX?

You can check the full history of L397 VBX by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was L397 VBX registered?

L397 VBX is a 1993 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 1 August 1993.

Is L397 VBX safe to buy?

The MOT history for L397 VBX shows 28 tests with a 57.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does L397 VBX 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 L397 VBX. 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.