CarVerify

Free Car Check

L457 GCW

1994 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires14 Apr 2026
Tests22 (14 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate63.6%

Mileage

160,243 mi
Last recorded160,243 miles
Recorded on15 Apr 2025
Typical for 1994 Land Rover Defender120,267 mi

Above 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 £14.99

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

RegistrationL457 GCW
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1994
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

14 pass 8 fail
Pass 15 Apr 2025 160,243 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Offside Front Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced floor pan corroded (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Fail 11 Apr 2025 160,242 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

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

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

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Offside Front Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced floor pan corroded (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 15 Mar 2024 159,675 miles

Front Coil spring corroded both fronts (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

Rear Coil spring corroded both rears (5.3.1 (b) (i))

front shocks have corrosion

rear shocks have corrosion

Fail 17 Feb 2024 159,492 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases centre box not attached properly (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Rear Brake disc contaminated (1.1.14 (b))

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) contaminated (1.1.13 (b))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Oil leaking excessively from transmission hub seal leaking (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt steering box linkage arm ball joint dust cover (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Front Coil spring corroded both fronts (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front shock absorbers corroded slightly

Nearside Front Oil leak, but not excessive hub seal misting (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Oil leak, but not excessive hub seal misting (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe inadequately clipped or supported (1.1.11 (d) (i))

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

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

Rear Coil spring corroded both rears (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear both rear shock absorbers corroded slightly

Pass 10 Feb 2023 155,978 miles

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both sides of axle (1.1.11 (c))

Fail 4 Feb 2023 155,817 miles

Offside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both sides of axle (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 19 Feb 2022 152,127 miles

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))

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

Pass 28 Jan 2021 147,926 miles

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))

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

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

Fail 19 Jan 2021 147,923 miles

Front Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

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

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

Offside Rear Position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp Brake light stuck on (4.2.3 (c))

Offside Rear Stop lamp(s) remains on when the brakes are released (4.3.2 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

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))

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

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

Pass 27 Feb 2020 144,151 miles

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))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material brake pipes across rear axal rusty (1.1.11 (c))

both front axal swivel sills leaking

Fail 24 Feb 2020 144,150 miles

Nearside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

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))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material brake pipes across rear axal rusty (1.1.11 (c))

both front axal swivel sills leaking

Pass 30 Apr 2013 143,746 miles
Pass 20 Jan 2012 143,099 miles

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

Pass 19 Jan 2011 141,245 miles

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

Pass 9 Feb 2010 139,452 miles
Fail 8 Feb 2010 139,452 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.C.1a)

front brake discs backing plates touching discs

parking brake outer cover missing

slight corrosion to brake discs

suspension jack up kit fitted

very slight play in rear wheel bearings

Pass 11 Feb 2009 137,871 miles

Centre Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

front number plate held on with cable ties

handbrake high

parking brake outer cover missing

slight oil leak

suspension jack up kit fitted

Fail 9 Feb 2009 137,863 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1a)

Centre Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

handbrake high

parking brake outer cover missing

slight oil leak

suspension jack up kit fitted

Pass 11 Feb 2008 135,306 miles

Battery insecure

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

Nearside Panhard rod has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

unable to open taildoor from outside

Fail 8 Feb 2008 135,303 miles

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Driver's seat insecure (6.2.A.1)

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Power steering malfunctioning (2.3.3a)

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Rear registration plate insecure (6.3.1b)

Battery insecure

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

Nearside Panhard rod has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

unable to open taildoor from outside

Pass 12 Sep 2006 131,141 miles
Pass 20 Jan 2006 125,168 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

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

L457 GCW is a 1994 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.6%.

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 L457 GCW, 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 L457 GCW?

You can check the full history of L457 GCW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was L457 GCW registered?

L457 GCW is a 1994 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 25 January 1994.

Is L457 GCW safe to buy?

The MOT history for L457 GCW shows 22 tests with a 63.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does L457 GCW 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 L457 GCW. 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.