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M970 SBW

1994 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires4 Oct 2027
Tests31 (21 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate67.7%

Mileage

239,692 mi
Last recorded239,692 miles
Recorded on9 Sep 2026
Typical for 1994 Land Rover Defender120,267 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationM970 SBW
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

21 pass 10 fail
Pass 9 Sep 2026 239,692 miles

Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced both front floor pans corroded (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Nail in tyre

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

Oil leak, but not excessive oil leaks from both front hub seals (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive oil leaks from engine, gearbox and front diff (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge both front tyres getting low on edges (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 23 Sep 2025 234,471 miles

Nearside Rear axle damp

both front floor section heavily corroded above chassis

Fail 19 Sep 2025 234,435 miles

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

Offside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Nearside Rear axle damp

both front floor section heavily corroded above chassis

Pass 3 Oct 2024 229,137 miles

Ffront diff pinion shaft slight play

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt BOTH NEARSIDE (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Fail 24 Sep 2024 229,060 miles

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

Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect BOTH (4.1.2 (c))

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt DROP ARM BALL JOINT (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Ffront diff pinion shaft slight play

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Offside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt BOTH NEARSIDE (2.1.3 (g) (i))

offside headlight lens cracked

Pass 5 Oct 2023 223,845 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases Middle to rear section pipe (6.1.2 (a))

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt N/S and O/S splitting/perishing (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

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

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

Pass 30 Sep 2022 216,965 miles

n/s wind screen cracked

Pass 1 Oct 2021 211,665 miles

Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured both (4.4.3 (a))

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

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure is repaired but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (d) (i))

Nearside Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Vehicle structure is repaired but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (d) (i))

Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured both (4.4.3 (a))

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

Fail 29 Sep 2021 211,630 miles

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Axle has excessive vertical movement between stub axle and axle beam bump stop missing (5.1.2 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering and n/s rear marked in yellow marker (6.1.1 (c) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Nearside windscreen cracked front no.plate has slight damage

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

Pass 24 Sep 2020 205,594 miles

Front no .plate damage

Nearside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside windscreen cracked but ok

Offside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced member (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Fail 24 Sep 2020 205,579 miles

Nearside Rear reflector missing (4.8.2 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Brake pad(s) incorrectly mounted (1.1.13 (c)) DANGEROUS

Front no .plate damage

Nearside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside windscreen cracked but ok

Offside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced member (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 24 Sep 2019 197,910 miles
Fail 24 Sep 2019 197,910 miles

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear reflector missing (4.8.2 (a) (ii))

Pass 9 Oct 2017 181,146 miles

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

Fail 6 Oct 2017 181,111 miles

Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

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

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

Pass 30 Sep 2016 170,975 miles
Fail 26 Sep 2016 170,760 miles

Nearside Rear Rear reflector missing (1.5.1a)

Offside Front Electrical wiring damaged, likely to cause a short (1.9.2b)

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

Pass 16 Sep 2015 163,204 miles
Pass 3 Oct 2014 156,588 miles
Fail 2 Oct 2014 156,588 miles

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

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

Pass 4 Oct 2013 149,417 miles
Pass 17 Oct 2012 143,835 miles

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

Offside front brake juddering slightly (3.7.A.2b)

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

Fail 16 Oct 2012 143,830 miles

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

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Rear Drive shaft uj which forms part of the suspension has excessive play in a universal joint (2.4.G.4b)

Rear registration plate insecure (6.3.1b)

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

Offside front brake juddering slightly (3.7.A.2b)

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

Pass 26 Sep 2011 138,597 miles

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

Offside Front front brake juddering slightly (3.7.A.2b)

Pass 25 Oct 2010 132,073 miles
Fail 15 Oct 2010 132,004 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Fuel tank leaking (7.2.3)

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

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

Offside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Pass 30 Sep 2009 124,291 miles

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

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

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

front no plate damaged

Pass 3 Oct 2008 118,006 miles
Pass 19 Sep 2007 111,738 miles
Pass 18 Sep 2006 106,846 miles
Pass 30 Sep 2005 99,977 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

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M970 SBW is a 1994 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 67.7%.

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 M970 SBW, 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 M970 SBW?

You can check the full history of M970 SBW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was M970 SBW registered?

M970 SBW is a 1994 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 21 October 1994.

Is M970 SBW safe to buy?

The MOT history for M970 SBW shows 31 tests with a 67.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does M970 SBW 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 M970 SBW. 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.