CarVerify

Free Car Check

M894 DRW

1994 Land Rover Defender

Red Diesel 2495cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires18 Dec 2026
Tests31 (20 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate64.5%

Mileage

161,004 mi
Last recorded161,004 miles
Recorded on15 Dec 2025
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
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £14.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationM894 DRW
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1994
ColourRed
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 15 Dec 2025 161,004 miles

Engine oil level low . only just touching bottom of dipstick below min mark

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

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

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

Offside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

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

Offside Side indicator repeater slightly dim

Fail 15 Dec 2025 161,004 miles

Engine oil level low . only just touching bottom of dipstick below min mark

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

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

Nearside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

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

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

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

Offside Side indicator repeater slightly dim

Pass 19 Dec 2024 159,154 miles

Engine oil level low

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

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Radius arm bushes on front of arms (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Radius arm bushes on front of arms (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Pass 5 Dec 2023 156,952 miles

Central Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage Around power steering pump. (2.1.5 (a))

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

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

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Power steering component has slight seepage from a component Steering box slightly damp. (2.1.5 (a))

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

Offside Front Steering linkage ball joint has slight play Drop arm. (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Fail 5 Dec 2023 156,952 miles

Central Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high and too far to the right. (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage Around power steering pump. (2.1.5 (a))

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

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

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Power steering component has slight seepage from a component Steering box slightly damp. (2.1.5 (a))

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

Offside Front Steering linkage ball joint has slight play Drop arm. (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 6 Dec 2022 156,281 miles

Front Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively Slide join splines. (6.1.7 (c) (i))

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

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Rear trailing arm's front bushes. (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Rear trailing arm's front bushes. (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Pass 6 Dec 2021 153,524 miles

Bonnet release not working/needs adjusting

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

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

Fail 4 Dec 2021 153,509 miles

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded front to rear pipe nut where it joins the flexible hose (1.1.11 (c))

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Bonnet release not working/needs adjusting

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

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

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

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

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Pass 8 Dec 2020 149,546 miles

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

Nearside Front Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Outrigger (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

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

Fail 8 Dec 2020 149,546 miles

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

Nearside Front Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Outrigger (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.2.3 (c))

Nearside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 18 Nov 2019 143,110 miles

Driver's door hinge deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.3 (c) (i))

Front passenger door hinge deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.3 (c) (i))

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

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

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

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

Pass 15 Nov 2018 139,391 miles

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

Central Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated A frame (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Driver's door hinge deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.3 (c) (i))

Front passenger door hinge deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.3 (c) (i))

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

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

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

Power steering pump has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Steering box has seepage (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Fail 15 Nov 2018 139,391 miles

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

Central Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated A frame (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Driver's door hinge deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.3 (c) (i))

Front passenger door hinge deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.3 (c) (i))

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

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

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

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

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

Offside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

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

Power steering pump has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Steering box has seepage (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Pass 16 Nov 2017 133,910 miles

Central Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt A frame ball joint dust cover slightly deteriorated (2.4.G.2)

Driver's door hinge deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.B.2)

Front passenger door hinge deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.B.2)

Main beam "Tell tale" light dim

Nearside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured Slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Front Lower Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Pass 15 Nov 2016 127,505 miles

Driver's door hinge deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.B.2)

Front passenger door hinge deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.B.2)

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

Nearside Front Swivel housing leaking grease

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

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

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

Fail 15 Nov 2016 127,505 miles

Driver's door hinge deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.B.2)

Front passenger door hinge deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.B.2)

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

Nearside Front Swivel housing leaking grease

Nearside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle On radius arm (4.1.D.2)

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

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

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

Pass 4 Nov 2015 120,043 miles
Fail 3 Nov 2015 120,019 miles

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

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

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

Offside Rear Shock absorber - all missing when fitted as standard (2.7.1a)

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 10 Nov 2014 111,462 miles

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

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

Fail 5 Nov 2014 111,327 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 13 Nov 2013 99,159 miles
Fail 6 Nov 2013 99,159 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) insecure (3.5.1g)

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

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

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

oil leak

power steering leak

Pass 17 Oct 2012 88,609 miles
Fail 14 Oct 2012 88,389 miles

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

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

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

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

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

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

Oil leak

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

boot area fully loaded

clutch pedal rubber missing

engine oil level low

Pass 4 Nov 2011 76,619 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 10 Nov 2010 64,503 miles
Fail 8 Nov 2010 64,501 miles

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 9 Nov 2009 54,400 miles

Both the fron t and rear diffs have leaking pinion seals.

Oil leaking from the O/S steering swivil joint shows signs that it may be contaminating the brake. Early rectification is advised.

There are engine oil leaks.

Pass 19 Aug 2008 43,624 miles
Pass 29 Aug 2007 41,702 miles
Pass 4 Sep 2006 36,746 miles

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

M894 DRW is a 1994 Land Rover Defender in Red 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 M894 DRW, 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 M894 DRW?

You can check the full history of M894 DRW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was M894 DRW registered?

M894 DRW is a 1994 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 28 September 1994.

Is M894 DRW safe to buy?

The MOT history for M894 DRW 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 M894 DRW 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 M894 DRW. 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.