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L542 COD

1993 Land Rover Defender

Red Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires3 Dec 2026
Tests30 (19 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate63.3%

Mileage

174,718 mi
Last recorded174,718 miles
Recorded on4 Dec 2025
Typical for 1993 Land Rover Defender118,574 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationL542 COD
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1993
ColourRed
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

19 pass 11 fail
Pass 4 Dec 2025 174,718 miles
Pass 29 Jul 2024 174,264 miles
Pass 10 Jun 2023 173,622 miles
Fail 7 Feb 2023 173,616 miles

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

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

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

Rear Brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 25 Nov 2021 173,352 miles

Hydraulic leak, but not excessive From pump (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 25 Nov 2021 173,352 miles

Hydraulic leak, but not excessive From pump (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Pass 13 Nov 2020 172,735 miles

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

Slight corrosion under vehicle

Fail 11 Nov 2020 172,735 miles

Offside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Chassis (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Track rod end ball joint has excessive play Rear (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Rear Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn A-frame (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Slight corrosion under vehicle

Pass 22 Nov 2019 172,025 miles

Nearside Front Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt rear arm (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt rear arm (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 21 Nov 2018 170,990 miles
Pass 17 Nov 2017 169,018 miles
Pass 16 Feb 2016 158,351 miles

Nearside Front Lower Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

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

Fail 16 Feb 2016 158,351 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Nearside Front Lower Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

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

Pass 18 Feb 2015 148,147 miles

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

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

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

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

Fail 17 Feb 2015 148,111 miles

Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

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

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

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

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

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

steering damper bush play

Pass 12 Feb 2014 136,011 miles

steering damper has a worn bush

Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

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

n/s front washer poor jet

Pass 20 Feb 2013 125,978 miles

Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

floor of cab corroded and holed

Fail 20 Feb 2013 125,978 miles

Centre Statutory seat belt missing (5.1.1)

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

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

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

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Steering box has relative movement between sector shaft and the drop arm (2.2.B.1b)

Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

floor of cab corroded and holed

Pass 7 Feb 2012 117,714 miles

o/s/r bump stop missing

Fail 7 Feb 2012 117,714 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Steering box has relative movement between sector shaft and the drop arm (2.2.B.1b)

Steering damper deformed and unserviceable (2.2.C.1d)

o/s/r bump stop missing

Pass 14 Feb 2011 111,098 miles

slight play in steering damper rubber

Fail 8 Feb 2011 111,078 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

rear prop u/j worn out

slight play in steering damper rubber

Pass 10 Feb 2010 103,602 miles

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

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

Offside outer track rod end joint cover split/missing

Spare tyre defective

number plate lettering grey/black

o/s/r tyre 2mm

Fail 9 Feb 2010 103,583 miles

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

Front passenger door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high and too far to the right. (1.8)

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

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

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the left. (1.8)

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

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

Offside Rear reflector insecure (1.5.1a)

Rear registration plate insecure (6.3.1b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d) DANGEROUS

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

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

Offside outer track rod end joint cover split/missing

Spare tyre defective

number plate lettering grey/black

o/s/r tyre 2mm

Pass 21 Jan 2009 98,006 miles
Pass 8 Jan 2008 92,179 miles
Fail 8 Jan 2008 92,173 miles

Offside Front Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

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

Offside Front Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

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

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 19 Dec 2006 86,940 miles
Pass 24 Nov 2005 81,346 miles
Fail 23 Nov 2005 81,340 miles

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged sufficient to obstruct correct operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged sufficient to obstruct correct operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

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

Offside Front Ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

L542 COD is a 1993 Land Rover Defender in Red with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 30 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.3%.

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 L542 COD, 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 L542 COD?

You can check the full history of L542 COD by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was L542 COD registered?

L542 COD is a 1993 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 7 December 1993.

Is L542 COD safe to buy?

The MOT history for L542 COD shows 30 tests with a 63.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does L542 COD 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 L542 COD. 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.