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S38 ETA

1999 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2500cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires2 Apr 2027
Tests19 (12 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate63.2%

Mileage

86,141 mi
Last recorded86,141 miles
Recorded on13 Mar 2026
Typical for 1999 Land Rover Defender106,873 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationS38 ETA
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1999
ColourGreen
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,500cc

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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

12 pass 7 fail
Pass 13 Mar 2026 86,141 miles
Pass 3 Apr 2025 85,807 miles
Pass 21 Feb 2024 85,491 miles
Fail 21 Feb 2024 85,491 miles

Brake performance unable to be tested (1.2.1 (g))

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

Fail 6 Jan 2014 84,616 miles

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

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

slight play in sreering damper mounting bush

various suspension components slightly corroded

Pass 6 Jan 2014 84,616 miles

slight play in sreering damper mounting bush

various suspension components slightly corroded

Pass 12 Dec 2012 83,380 miles

various suspension components corroded

Pass 13 Dec 2011 81,775 miles

front brake pads low/chassis has surface corrosion and brake pipes starting to corrode/ various suspension components corroded

Fail 13 Dec 2011 81,775 miles

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

front brake pads low/chassis has surface corrosion and brake pipes starting to corrode/ various suspension components corroded

Pass 25 Nov 2010 78,244 miles

rear uj bearing on front propshaft excessively worn

Fail 25 Nov 2010 78,235 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

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

rear uj bearing on front propshaft excessively worn

Fail 23 Nov 2009 67,276 miles

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 23 Nov 2009 67,276 miles
Pass 10 Nov 2008 61,568 miles
Fail 31 Oct 2008 61,486 miles

Fuel system component leaking (7.2.3)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Pass 2 Nov 2007 57,035 miles
Fail 29 Oct 2007 57,035 miles

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

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 26 Oct 2006 54,393 miles
Pass 12 Oct 2005 51,066 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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S38 ETA is a 1999 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,500cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.2%.

Across all 1999 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.6% with a typical mileage of 106,873 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 S38 ETA, 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 27 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 S38 ETA?

You can check the full history of S38 ETA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S38 ETA registered?

S38 ETA is a 1999 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 12 January 1999.

Is S38 ETA safe to buy?

The MOT history for S38 ETA shows 19 tests with a 63.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does S38 ETA 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 S38 ETA. 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.