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L981 EAX

1994 Land Rover Defender

Grey Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 Nov 2026
Tests28 (20 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate71.4%

Mileage

201,042 mi
Last recorded201,042 miles
Recorded on28 Nov 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

RegistrationL981 EAX
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1994
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

20 pass 8 fail
Pass 28 Nov 2025 201,042 miles

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

Fail 28 Nov 2025 201,042 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too far to the right (4.1.2 (a))

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

Pass 5 Nov 2024 199,780 miles

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge both front (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 29 Nov 2023 198,937 miles
Pass 4 Nov 2022 197,362 miles

Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge bothsides (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 4 Nov 2022 197,362 miles

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

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

Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge bothsides (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 10 Nov 2021 195,499 miles
Pass 2 Nov 2020 193,695 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 30 Oct 2019 191,592 miles
Pass 30 Oct 2018 189,074 miles
Pass 17 Oct 2017 187,658 miles

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.3.3b)

Pass 4 Nov 2016 182,164 miles

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

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement front (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Inner Body has slight corrosion floor on wheel arch (6.1.B.2)

transmission oil leak

Pass 21 Oct 2015 173,468 miles

Centre Rear Inner Vehicle structure has slight corrosion cross member (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Front Outer half shaft oil seal slight leak

Offside Front Outer half shaft oil seal slight leak

oil leak

Pass 29 Oct 2014 165,644 miles

Oil leak

n/s/r half shaft oil seal has a slight leak

Pass 28 Oct 2013 158,964 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

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

general underside corrosion

Fail 24 Oct 2013 158,770 miles

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

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Lower Steering column universal joint has excessive play (2.1.5)

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering box fitted) (2.2.A.1a)

Vehicle structure excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.6.6)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

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

general underside corrosion

Fail 6 Nov 2012 156,642 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

brake pedal rubber wearing smooth

corrosion to both chassis rail's & rear valance

nearside front tractor unit damp

offside front steering arm has play in outer ball joint

Pass 6 Nov 2012 156,642 miles

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

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

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

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

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

brake pedal rubber wearing smooth

corrosion to both chassis rail's & rear valance

nearside front tractor unit damp

offside front steering arm has play in outer ball joint

Pass 1 Dec 2011 142,610 miles

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

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Oil leak

Fail 1 Dec 2011 142,610 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Oil leak

Pass 6 Dec 2010 125,968 miles

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

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Oil leak

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

Spare tyre defective

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)

brake pedal rubber worn

damage to nearside front of bumper

Fail 25 Nov 2010 125,351 miles

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

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Front Tyre(s) incorrect because different size tyres are fitted on the same axle. (4.1.A.1a)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Rear Tyre(s) incorrect because different size tyres are fitted on the same axle. (4.1.A.1a)

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

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Oil leak

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

Spare tyre defective

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 14 Dec 2009 109,550 miles

all door frames corroded

bonnet catch stiff

both front seat belts marked

chip in screen

nsf winwow winder?

slight play in drop arm baal joint

spare tyre flat

Pass 3 Dec 2008 89,570 miles

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

chips in screen

front tyre close to limit

nsf metal brake pipe corroded

oil leaks

rear shock bushes warn

Fail 29 Nov 2008 89,570 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

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

Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

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

chips in screen

front tyre close to limit

nsf metal brake pipe corroded

oil leaks

rear shock bushes warn

Pass 12 Dec 2007 83,128 miles

b ottom off all doors corroded

engine belt noise

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak

slight play in o\s\f swivel housing

slight play in rear wheel bearings

surface corrosion on all flexy brake pipes

surface corrosion on chassi, steering, suspension,and foorpan

washers parcially blocked

Fail 12 Dec 2007 83,128 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak

b ottom off all doors corroded

engine belt noise

slight play in o\s\f swivel housing

slight play in rear wheel bearings

surface corrosion on all flexy brake pipes

surface corrosion on chassi, steering, suspension,and foorpan

washers parcially blocked

Pass 25 Nov 2006 78,294 miles

Oil leak

Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

bonnet stay broken

oil light flickers intermittently

rear diff damp

slight play n\s front track rod end

slight play rear wheel bearings

surface corrosion chassi,body and suspension components

transfer box leaking

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

L981 EAX is a 1994 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 71.4%.

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 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 L981 EAX, 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 L981 EAX?

You can check the full history of L981 EAX by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was L981 EAX registered?

L981 EAX is a 1994 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 13 January 1994.

Is L981 EAX safe to buy?

The MOT history for L981 EAX shows 28 tests with a 71.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does L981 EAX 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 L981 EAX. 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.