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L398 NHL

1994 Land Rover Defender

Black Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires21 Jun 2024
Tests27 (16 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate59.3%

Mileage

233,270 mi
Last recorded233,270 miles
Recorded on4 Sep 2025
Typical for 1994 Land Rover Defender120,267 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationL398 NHL
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1994
ColourBlack
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 11 fail
Fail 4 Sep 2025 233,270 miles

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Windscreen wiper not working (3.4 (a))

Nearside Front Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion to the extent that overall security or stability of the body is impaired (6.2.2 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion to the extent that overall security or stability of the body is impaired Centre out rigger (6.2.2 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion to the extent that overall security or stability of the body is impaired Gear box mount (6.2.2 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Power steering inoperative and steering adversely affected (2.1.5 (c) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 22 Jun 2023 231,826 miles
Pass 17 Jun 2022 229,682 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 3 Sep 2021 229,388 miles
Fail 27 Aug 2021 229,388 miles

Central Rear Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush excessively worn A-frame ball joint (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Offside Front Suspension spring mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength behind spring (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Rear Prop shaft bearing excessively worn Rear of rear (6.1.7 (b) (i))

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

Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced n/s center cross member mount (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced o/s center cross member mount (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Front Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded to the extent that control of the vehicle is likely to be adversely affected around A-frame mount (5.3.6 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 12 Aug 2020 225,327 miles

slight play in rear upper shock bushes

Pass 1 Apr 2019 210,465 miles
Fail 1 Apr 2019 210,465 miles

Offside Rear Lower Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Pass 24 Jan 2018 206,652 miles

Oil leak ()

Pass 20 Jan 2017 195,953 miles

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Oil leak ()

Pass 5 Feb 2016 184,991 miles

Brake pedal has slight side movement indicating a worn pedal bearing or pivot (3.3.A.1d)

Front Brake pipe slightly corroded nearside and offside (3.6.B.2c)

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

oil leak

Fail 5 Feb 2016 184,975 miles

Brake fluid warning lamp inoperative (3.6.G.2)

Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect nearside and offside (1.8.A.1b)

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

Brake pedal has slight side movement indicating a worn pedal bearing or pivot (3.3.A.1d)

Front Brake pipe slightly corroded nearside and offside (3.6.B.2c)

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

oil leak

Pass 7 Feb 2015 173,575 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

Oil leak

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 6 Feb 2015 173,559 miles

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

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Upper Electrical wiring insecure (1.9.2a)

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

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

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

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

Oil leak

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 7 Feb 2014 162,955 miles
Fail 3 Feb 2014 162,843 miles

Nearside Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Pass 8 Feb 2013 152,340 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Drag link end ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Oil leak

Fail 30 Jan 2013 152,018 miles

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

Nearside Front Radius arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

Offside Front Radius arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Drag link end ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Oil leak

Pass 24 Jan 2012 144,342 miles

Driver's door hinge deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.B.2)

Front passenger door hinge deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.B.2)

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

Nearside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Fail 16 Jan 2012 144,235 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

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

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

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

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

Driver's door hinge deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.B.2)

Front passenger door hinge deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.B.2)

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

Nearside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 9 Feb 2011 140,664 miles
Fail 7 Feb 2011 140,659 miles

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1b)

Pass 10 Nov 2008 139,207 miles
Fail 10 Mar 2008 139,136 miles

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

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

Pass 20 Mar 2007 136,794 miles

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

Pass 10 Mar 2006 131,326 miles

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

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

Fail 10 Mar 2006 131,326 miles

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

Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated (7.1.1a)

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

Offside Rear Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Rear position lamp(s) adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

Rear Registration plate lamp not illuminating the registration plate (1.1.C.1e)

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

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

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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L398 NHL is a 1994 Land Rover Defender in Black with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 59.3%.

Across all 1994 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 68.3% with a typical mileage of 120,267 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 L398 NHL, 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 32 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 L398 NHL?

You can check the full history of L398 NHL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was L398 NHL registered?

L398 NHL is a 1994 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 31 March 1994.

Is L398 NHL safe to buy?

The MOT history for L398 NHL shows 27 tests with a 59.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does L398 NHL 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 L398 NHL. 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.