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M281 HWP

1994 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires25 Nov 2026
Tests30 (19 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate63.3%

Mileage

182,052 mi
Last recorded182,052 miles
Recorded on26 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

RegistrationM281 HWP
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 11 fail
Pass 26 Nov 2025 182,052 miles

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

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

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

Fail 15 Nov 2025 182,041 miles

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Out riggers corroded

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

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

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

Pass 17 Feb 2024 178,859 miles
Pass 29 Oct 2022 175,235 miles

rear tyres perished

Pass 7 Aug 2021 172,854 miles
Pass 11 Jul 2020 171,512 miles
Pass 20 Jul 2019 168,988 miles
Pass 21 Jul 2018 164,359 miles
Pass 22 Jul 2017 159,351 miles
Fail 22 Jul 2017 159,345 miles

Offside Front Axle king pin has excessive play in pin and/or bush adversely affecting the steering (2.5.A.3a)

Pass 16 Jul 2016 153,811 miles

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) slightly discoloured (1.1.A.3e)

Steering damper slight oil seepage (2.2.C.1f)

Pass 11 Jul 2015 148,505 miles

Oil leak

Rear Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Pass 30 Jun 2014 146,747 miles

Coolant leak

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oil leak

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

all tyres are perrished

Fail 27 Jun 2014 146,747 miles

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

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

Coolant leak

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

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

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

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

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

Oil leak

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

all tyres are perrished

Pass 17 Jul 2013 143,661 miles

Front Ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

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

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

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

Oil leak

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

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

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

washers not directly hitting windscreen

Fail 15 Jul 2013 143,661 miles

Driver's door does not latch securely closed (6.2.B.1a)

Nearside Front Steering pivot point has excessive play (2.2.B.1g)

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

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

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

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Rear fog lamp emits a light other than red (1.3.2e)

Front Ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

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

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

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

Oil leak

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

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

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

washers not directly hitting windscreen

Pass 27 Jul 2012 139,518 miles

Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

oil leak

prop shaft uj worn

slight play in swivle joint

steering box has slight leak

Fail 18 Jul 2012 139,515 miles

Ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Hazard warning tell tale not working correctly (1.4.B.1e)

Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Nearside Axle swivel joint has slight play (2.5.A.3b)

Offside Rear reflector slightly damaged but function not impaired (1.5.1c)

Oil leak

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

Prop-shaft universal joint worn

Pass 21 Jul 2011 136,889 miles

Oil leak

Fail 20 Jul 2011 136,889 miles

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Oil leak

both wiper blades torn

Pass 6 Jul 2010 132,488 miles

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

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

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

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

o/s axle spring seat rusty.

o/s chassis rusty at rear end.

o/s front tyre perished

steering damper bush worn.

Fail 29 Jun 2010 132,487 miles

All position lamps not working (1.1.A.3b)

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

Brake has no servo assistance (3.3.B.2)

Direction indicators not working (1.4.A.2c)

Nearside Front Brake pipe fouled by moving parts (3.6.B.2a)

Nearside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

Offside Towbar component excessively corroded (6.6.1)

Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

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

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

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

Propshaft component defective

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

o/s axle spring seat rusty.

o/s chassis rusty at rear end.

o/s front tyre perished

steering damper bush worn.

Pass 30 Jul 2009 129,438 miles

some play in steering damper bush

Fail 29 Jul 2009 129,438 miles

Ball joint ball pin shank loose (2.2.B.1c)

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incomplete (1.5.A1b)

Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

some play in steering damper bush

Pass 23 Jul 2008 125,809 miles

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

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

Fail 23 Jul 2008 125,809 miles

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

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

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

Offside Rear Radius arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

trim pad above brake pedal insecure

Pass 10 Aug 2007 121,913 miles
Fail 10 Aug 2007 121,913 miles

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

Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

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

Nearside Rear Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Pass 3 Aug 2006 112,091 miles
Fail 2 Aug 2006 117,091 miles

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

Nearside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Rear Panhard rod has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

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

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

M281 HWP is a 1994 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 30 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.3%.

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 M281 HWP, 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 M281 HWP?

You can check the full history of M281 HWP by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was M281 HWP registered?

M281 HWP is a 1994 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 5 August 1994.

Is M281 HWP safe to buy?

The MOT history for M281 HWP 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 M281 HWP 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 M281 HWP. 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.