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M290 DSU

1994 Land Rover Defender

Black Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires9 May 2027
Tests31 (20 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate64.5%

Mileage

141,007 mi
Last recorded141,007 miles
Recorded on6 May 2026
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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationM290 DSU
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1994
ColourBlack
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 11 fail
Pass 6 May 2026 141,007 miles

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

Pass 10 May 2025 140,540 miles

Parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Pass 11 Apr 2024 140,132 miles

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

Rear Service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Pass 17 Mar 2023 139,429 miles

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Rear Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Fail 17 Mar 2023 139,419 miles

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Rear Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Oil leaking excessively from engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 26 Mar 2022 137,749 miles

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Rear Service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Pass 25 Mar 2021 136,316 miles
Pass 30 Mar 2020 135,649 miles

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

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

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

Pass 26 Mar 2019 134,611 miles

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

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

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

Fail 23 Mar 2019 134,611 miles

Central Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

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

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

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

Pass 7 Feb 2018 132,835 miles

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

Oil leak ()

Fail 7 Feb 2018 132,835 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Oil leak ()

Pass 2 Aug 2016 131,080 miles
Pass 12 Aug 2015 129,304 miles
Pass 3 Jun 2014 128,216 miles

Coolant leak

Oil leak

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

noise from offside front wheel when spun

offside rear bumpstop missing

slight play in front propshaft

Fail 19 May 2014 128,212 miles

Headlamp switch insecure (1.7.1)

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

Nearside Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.2.C.1h)

Position lamp switch insecure (1.1.A.1)

Service brake juddering severely (3.7.C.2)

Steering locking device insecure (2.2.C.1g)

Coolant leak

Oil leak

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

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

noise from offside fron wheel when spun by hand

offside rear bumpstop missing

slight play in front propshaft

Pass 21 May 2013 126,574 miles

Items removed from driver's view prior to test

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

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

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

Oil leak

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

light corrosion to nearside body capping near seat belts

nearside swivel hub leaking

slight play in rear prop uj

Fail 20 May 2013 126,574 miles

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

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

Items removed from driver's view prior to test

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

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

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

Oil leak

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

light corrosion to nearside body capping near seat belts

nearside swivel hub leaking

slight play in rear prop uj

Pass 17 May 2012 122,274 miles

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

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

Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (2.5.A.3a)

Nearside Rear Tie bar/rod rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Rear Tie bar/rod rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Fail 23 Apr 2012 121,979 miles

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

Nearside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

Offside Rear Statutory seat belt missing (5.1.1)

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

Oil leak

slight pitting both rear brake discs

Pass 19 May 2011 119,184 miles
Fail 20 Apr 2011 118,998 miles

Nearside Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front Vehicle structure has an unsatisfactory modification, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Offside Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Pass 28 Apr 2010 114,372 miles
Fail 26 Apr 2010 114,372 miles

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

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

Pass 5 Mar 2009 109,501 miles

Rear Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Fail 5 Mar 2009 109,501 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on (8.2.1b)

Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Rear Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Pass 28 Feb 2008 105,201 miles
Pass 24 Feb 2007 102,748 miles
Fail 22 Feb 2007 102,743 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too far to the right (1.8)

Nearside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated (8.2.2)

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

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

Offside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

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

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

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

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

offside rear axle tie bar bushes starting to split

slight fluid leak steering box

slight play nearside bottom trunion

Pass 14 Feb 2006 100,267 miles
Fail 8 Feb 2006 100,267 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Fuel cap/sealing device mounting flange/sealing method defective (7.2.4c)

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incomplete (1.5.A1b)

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

Offside Front brake disc contaminated by oil (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear Shock absorber detached (2.7.2b)

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

front brake pipe condition at calipers

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.

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M290 DSU is a 1994 Land Rover Defender in Black with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.5%.

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 M290 DSU, 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 M290 DSU?

You can check the full history of M290 DSU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was M290 DSU registered?

M290 DSU is a 1994 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 21 October 1994.

Is M290 DSU safe to buy?

The MOT history for M290 DSU shows 31 tests with a 64.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does M290 DSU 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 M290 DSU. 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.