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M254 GDL

1994 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires6 Apr 2027
Tests29 (19 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate65.5%

Mileage

189,764 mi
Last recorded189,764 miles
Recorded on7 Apr 2026
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

RegistrationM254 GDL
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1994
ColourGreen
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 10 fail
Pass 7 Apr 2026 189,764 miles

Coolant leak ()

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

Hazard warning switch faulty (4.4.2 (a) (i))

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

Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

front flooring corroded

handbrake only just met minimum requirement

rear tyres going out of shape

Pass 6 Feb 2025 184,862 miles

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

Fail 6 Feb 2025 184,862 miles

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

Offside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Fail 18 Nov 2024 184,830 miles

Nearside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

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

Offside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases and deteriorated (6.1.2 (a))

Front Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively (6.1.7 (c) (i))

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

Passenger seat(s) missing at time of test ()

Rear Vehicle structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Pass 13 Nov 2023 176,888 miles

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

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

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

Passenger seat(s) missing at time of test ()

Pass 23 Nov 2022 167,799 miles

Front Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively (6.1.7 (c) (i))

Passenger seat(s) missing at time of test ()

Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 16 Nov 2021 158,235 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

slight play front propshaft uj

Pass 14 Nov 2020 150,850 miles
Fail 14 Nov 2020 150,850 miles

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Pass 23 Apr 2019 138,072 miles

Coolant leak ()

Nearside Front securing bolt loose - seat still secure

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 5 Apr 2019 137,527 miles

Brake servo defective or ineffective (1.1.10 (a) (i))

Central Rear Passenger's seat backrest cannot be secured in the upright position. (6.2.6 (a) (i))

Fuel cap/sealing device ineffective (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Lower Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced door shut / arch area (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Passenger's seat backrest cannot be secured in the upright position. (6.2.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength anti roll bar - chassis (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Passenger's seat backrest cannot be secured in the upright position. (6.2.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength anti roll bar - chassis (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Coolant leak ()

Nearside Front securing bolt loose - seat still secure

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Lower Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive door shut / arch area (7.1.1 (a) (i))

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

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 21 Apr 2018 127,307 miles

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

Fail 21 Apr 2018 127,307 miles

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

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

Pass 8 Apr 2017 114,106 miles
Fail 8 Apr 2017 114,105 miles

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

Nearside Rear Stop lamp emits other than a steady red light (1.2.1e)

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

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

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Rear Stop lamp emits other than a steady red light (1.2.1e)

Pass 1 Apr 2016 101,140 miles
Pass 27 Mar 2015 91,485 miles
Pass 30 Nov 2013 83,411 miles

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

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

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

slight dampness around steering box area

steering damper bush worn

Fail 8 Jun 2013 79,529 miles

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

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

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

Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching by more than 10mm within zone 'A' (8.3.1b)

brake drum contaminated by oil (3.5.1h)

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

Oil leak

Pass 29 Dec 2012 76,605 miles

Oil leak

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

Pass 25 Nov 2011 66,685 miles

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

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

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

Oil leak

Pass 13 Nov 2010 144,207 miles
Pass 23 Oct 2009 136,766 miles

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

Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

both front brake discs have slight contamination with oil

both front hub seals starting to leak

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

slight play all 4 wheel bearings

Pass 17 Oct 2008 128,471 miles
Fail 17 Oct 2008 128,470 miles

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

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

Pass 24 Oct 2007 119,681 miles
Fail 13 Oct 2007 119,491 miles

Brake pedal anti-slip provision incomplete (3.3.A.1b)

Offside Power steering component(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 13 Oct 2006 112,431 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.2b)

Fail 6 Oct 2006 112,431 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.2a)

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.

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M254 GDL is a 1994 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65.5%.

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 M254 GDL, 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 M254 GDL?

You can check the full history of M254 GDL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was M254 GDL registered?

M254 GDL is a 1994 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 18 October 1994.

Is M254 GDL safe to buy?

The MOT history for M254 GDL shows 29 tests with a 65.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does M254 GDL 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 M254 GDL. 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.