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M397 FJU

1994 Land Rover Defender

White Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires16 Nov 2026
Tests31 (20 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate64.5%

Mileage

126,331 mi
Last recorded126,331 miles
Recorded on10 Nov 2025
Typical for 1994 Land Rover Defender120,267 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationM397 FJU
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1994
ColourWhite
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 10 Nov 2025 126,331 miles

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Offside Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b))

Fail 10 Nov 2025 126,330 miles

Nearside Hazard warning lamps inoperative all lights on N/S not working (4.4.1 (e))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Offside Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b))

Pass 13 Nov 2024 123,482 miles

Brake pedal wearing smooth (1.1.2 (c))

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

Nearside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

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

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin both rear inner pads (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced n/s and o/s above bump stop (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Fail 13 Nov 2024 123,480 miles

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced hole in chassis, below tail door (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced hole in chassis, below tail door (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Brake pedal wearing smooth (1.1.2 (c))

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

Nearside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

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

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin both rear inner pads (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced n/s and o/s above bump stop (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 13 Nov 2023 120,662 miles

Nearside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Steering box leaking oil (2.1.1 (e) (i))

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

Fail 8 Nov 2023 120,654 miles

Nearside Front Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion to the extent that overall security or stability of the body is impaired big hole gearbox mount (6.2.2 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion to the extent that overall security or stability of the body is impaired big hole gearbox mount (6.2.2 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Steering box leaking oil (2.1.1 (e) (i))

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

Pass 7 Nov 2022 117,379 miles

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

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 2mm (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Pass 10 Nov 2021 113,863 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 10 Nov 2021 113,862 miles

Offside Front Inner Track rod end ball joint worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment from box drop arm (2.1.3 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 11 Nov 2020 110,591 miles

Nearside Front Lower worn pin on hinge

Nearside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Lower worn pin on hinge

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Pass 1 Nov 2019 106,750 miles

both front swivel hub oil seals showing signs of leaking

oil around, on both front & rear differentials

Pass 14 Nov 2018 102,602 miles

Electrical wiring inadequately secured in engine compartment, and top of extra fan motor, also loose horn, held by tie wraps. (4.11 (a) (i))

Offside Front Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

both front swivel joints show signs of leaking oil

Fail 9 Nov 2018 102,443 miles

Exhaust emissions exceed level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine tried twice after road brake test, but failed after second attempt.too high (8.2.2.2 (b))

Nearside Front Drag link end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Drag link end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt steering drop arm from box marked yellow chalk (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Electrical wiring inadequately secured in engine compartment, and top of extra fan motor, also loose horn, held by tie wraps. (4.11 (a) (i))

Offside Front Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

both front swivel joints show signs of leaking oil

Pass 7 Nov 2017 99,703 miles
Pass 10 Nov 2016 96,622 miles

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

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

Fail 10 Nov 2016 96,622 miles

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

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

Pass 3 Nov 2015 93,378 miles
Pass 17 Nov 2014 89,039 miles

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

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

Wheel/tyre protruding beyond wheel arch

Fail 13 Nov 2014 88,975 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Rear Electrical wiring insecure (1.9.2a)

Offside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

Offside Rear Electrical wiring insecure (1.9.2a)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

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

Wheel/tyre protruding beyond wheel arch

Pass 11 Nov 2013 84,181 miles

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

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

Pass 15 Nov 2012 79,723 miles
Pass 17 Nov 2011 74,562 miles
Pass 29 Sep 2010 71,031 miles
Fail 29 Sep 2010 71,031 miles

Steering box insecure (2.2.B.1a)

Steering box damaged but serviceable (2.2.C.1d)

Pass 21 Sep 2009 68,382 miles
Pass 16 Sep 2008 64,972 miles
Fail 13 Sep 2008 64,966 miles

Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine (7.4.B.3b)

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Steering locking device missing (2.2.C.1g)

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

Pass 14 Jul 2007 61,977 miles

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

Fail 9 Jul 2007 61,971 miles

Front registration plate obscured (6.3.1d)

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

Pass 29 Jul 2006 56,320 miles
Fail 28 Jul 2006 56,292 miles

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

Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

2 bolts missing from steering guard.

front discs and pads worn thin.

slight play in both front radius arm bushes.

slight play in off side front track rod end.

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

M397 FJU is a 1994 Land Rover Defender in White 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 M397 FJU, 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 M397 FJU?

You can check the full history of M397 FJU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was M397 FJU registered?

M397 FJU is a 1994 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 1 August 1994.

Is M397 FJU safe to buy?

The MOT history for M397 FJU 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 M397 FJU 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 M397 FJU. 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.