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L444 GJW

1998 Land Rover Defender

Red Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires7 Jan 2027
Tests21 (17 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate81%

Mileage

161,790 mi
Last recorded161,790 miles
Recorded on8 Jan 2026
Typical for 1998 Land Rover Defender110,057 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationL444 GJW
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1998
ColourRed
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,495cc

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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

17 pass 4 fail
Pass 8 Jan 2026 161,790 miles

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

Pass 9 Oct 2024 158,572 miles
Pass 23 Oct 2023 153,579 miles

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

Pass 24 Oct 2022 151,602 miles

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

Pass 21 Oct 2021 150,194 miles
Pass 26 Oct 2020 147,773 miles
Pass 18 Oct 2019 146,227 miles
Pass 22 Oct 2018 143,983 miles
Pass 20 Dec 2017 140,618 miles
Pass 13 Dec 2016 129,368 miles
Fail 9 Dec 2016 129,368 miles

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

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Pass 10 Dec 2015 108,356 miles
Fail 30 Nov 2015 108,356 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

oil leaks

Pass 30 Oct 2014 107,848 miles

Oil leak

Pass 23 Oct 2013 107,269 miles
Pass 21 Nov 2012 105,681 miles

Nearside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

corrosion to variouse parts of chassie which may need attention in future

Fail 19 Nov 2012 105,681 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

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

Offside Front Seat belt damaged sufficient to significantly weakened the webbing (5.2.2a)

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

brake warning light lit on dash

corrosion to variouse parts of chassie which may need attention in future

Pass 10 Sep 2008 100,090 miles
Fail 10 Sep 2008 100,090 miles

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

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 8 Jan 2007 91,734 miles
Pass 9 Jan 2006 85,294 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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L444 GJW is a 1998 Land Rover Defender in Red with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 81%.

Across all 1998 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.3% with a typical mileage of 110,057 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 L444 GJW, 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 28 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 L444 GJW?

You can check the full history of L444 GJW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was L444 GJW registered?

L444 GJW is a 1998 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 11 December 1998.

Is L444 GJW safe to buy?

The MOT history for L444 GJW shows 21 tests with a 81% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does L444 GJW 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 L444 GJW. 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.