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M581 DHR

1994 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires3 Sep 2027
Tests30 (20 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

134,686 mi
Last recorded134,686 miles
Recorded on4 Sep 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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationM581 DHR
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1994
ColourBlue
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 10 fail
Pass 4 Sep 2026 134,686 miles

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

Fail 6 Mar 2026 134,816 miles

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

Nearside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded leaking (1.1.11 (c))

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

Central Rear Brake pipe leaking on a hydraulic braking system (1.1.11 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

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

Pass 1 Mar 2025 134,389 miles
Pass 24 Feb 2024 133,770 miles
Pass 4 Mar 2023 133,477 miles
Pass 1 Mar 2022 133,225 miles
Pass 20 Feb 2021 132,713 miles
Pass 29 Feb 2020 132,441 miles
Pass 26 Feb 2019 131,751 miles
Pass 2 Mar 2018 131,504 miles

Offside Front Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

slight play in front propshaft joints

Fail 10 Oct 2017 131,488 miles

Central Rear Body or chassis has an unsatisfactory modification, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings crossmember towbar mounts (6.1.B.2)

Central Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt axle ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

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

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively both sides (8.2.2)

Central Rear Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint axle ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Front prop shaft slight play

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

Offside Front Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Offside Front Body has slight corrosion floor (6.1.B.2)

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

Pass 13 Oct 2016 129,514 miles

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

Offside Front Vehicle structure has slight corrosion body mount (6.1.B.2)

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

Power steering pump has slight seepage from a seal steering box (2.3.3b)

Rear Vehicle structure has slight corrosion crossmember (6.1.B.2)

Pass 15 Oct 2015 126,740 miles

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

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Offside Front Vehicle structure has slight corrosion body mounting (6.1.A.1)

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

slight leak from steering box

Fail 2 Oct 2015 126,695 miles

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

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

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

general corrosion

oil leak

osf shock absorber has a light misting of oil

Pass 3 Oct 2014 124,203 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Fail 24 Sep 2014 124,174 miles

Driver's door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

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

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

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

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Pass 27 Sep 2013 121,618 miles

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

Nearside Rear Radius arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 19 Sep 2012 117,611 miles
Fail 29 Aug 2012 117,593 miles

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

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

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)

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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

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

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

front numberplate deteriorated but still legible at the moment

offside front to rear metal brake pipe starting to corrode

Pass 30 Aug 2011 114,600 miles

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

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

front numberplate damaged but still legible

oil leak from nearside front tractor joint

play in steering box arm ball joint (spring loaded)

Fail 25 Aug 2011 114,585 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

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

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

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

front numberplate damaged but still legible

oil leak from nearside front tractor joint

play in steering box arm ball joint (spring loaded)

Pass 27 Aug 2010 109,697 miles

oil leak from nearside front tractor joint

Fail 20 Aug 2010 109,697 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

oil leak from nearside front tractor joint

Pass 28 Aug 2009 104,195 miles
Pass 22 Aug 2008 96,600 miles
Fail 21 Aug 2008 96,584 miles

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

Nearside Windscreen wiper blade insecure (8.2.2)

Nearside Windscreen wiper not operating over a large enough area to give an adequate view (8.2.1c)

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Rear registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

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

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

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

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

Offside Front Front suspension has slight movement at a tie bar joint (2.5.A.1c)

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

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

Oil leak

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

n/s/f spherical hub seal leaking

Pass 31 Aug 2007 88,134 miles

offside front steering box droparm ball joint rubber boot split open

oil leak from nearside front tractor joint

wiper linkage worn

Fail 31 Aug 2007 88,134 miles

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

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

offside front steering box drop arm ball joint rubber boot split open

oil leak from nearside front tractor joint

Pass 16 Aug 2006 85,255 miles

Oil leak

rear numberplate starting to fade

steering box drop arm ball joint rubber boot split open

Fail 12 Jul 2006 85,227 miles

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

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

steering box drop arm ball joint rubber boot split open

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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M581 DHR is a 1994 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 30 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

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 M581 DHR, 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 M581 DHR?

You can check the full history of M581 DHR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was M581 DHR registered?

M581 DHR is a 1994 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 4 November 1994.

Is M581 DHR safe to buy?

The MOT history for M581 DHR shows 30 tests with a 66.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does M581 DHR 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 M581 DHR. 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.