CarVerify

Free Car Check

S485 BAX

1999 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2495cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires16 Feb 2026
Tests28 (19 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate67.9%

Mileage

258,688 mi
Last recorded258,688 miles
Recorded on13 Feb 2025
Typical for 1999 Land Rover Defender106,873 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationS485 BAX
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1999
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

19 pass 9 fail
Pass 13 Feb 2025 258,688 miles
Pass 14 Feb 2024 240,415 miles
Pass 17 Feb 2023 228,800 miles

Rear Vehicle structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security outer cross member (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Pass 14 Jan 2022 217,044 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 19 Jan 2021 207,907 miles

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

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

Front Suspension rod pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement axle 'c' bushes, All (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Towball/hitch not fitted at time of test ()

Unable to test 3rd row seat belts due to vehicle loaded

Fail 13 Jan 2021 207,907 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Other passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

Offside Driver's view of the road through the swept area of the windscreen materially affected by an obstruction sunvisor (3.1 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Front Suspension rod pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement axle 'c' bushes, All (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

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

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

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

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

Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Towball/hitch not fitted at time of test ()

Unable to test 3rd row seat belts due to vehicle loaded

Pass 17 Jan 2020 198,837 miles

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

Nearside Front Cab steps insecure (6.2.8 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

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

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

Offside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

Rear Drive shaft joint worn, but not excessively prop u/j (6.1.7 (c) (i))

Upper Steering column universal joint has slight wear or play (2.2.2 (c))

Fail 17 Jan 2020 198,837 miles

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

Nearside Front Cab steps insecure (6.2.8 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

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

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

Offside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

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

Rear Drive shaft joint worn, but not excessively prop u/j (6.1.7 (c) (i))

Upper Steering column universal joint has slight wear or play (2.2.2 (c))

Pass 2 Jan 2019 177,663 miles

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

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

Nearside Front Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

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

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

Offside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

Pass 17 Jan 2018 165,687 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Rear door rusty inside

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

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

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

advise brake effiency only 55%

Fail 30 Nov 2017 165,675 miles

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded out rigger (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe inadequately clipped (3.6.B.1)

Offside Rear Brake pipe inadequately clipped (3.6.B.1)

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

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

Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching by more than 10mm within zone 'A' sun visor (8.3.1b)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 24 Nov 2016 165,675 miles

Towball/hitch not fitted at time of test ()

Fail 24 Nov 2016 165,675 miles

Central Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Towball/hitch not fitted at time of test ()

Fail 3 Nov 2016 165,665 miles

Central Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Driver's seat insecure (6.2.A.1)

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

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

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Towball/hitch not fitted at time of test ()

Pass 22 Apr 2015 161,254 miles

Oil leak

Fail 21 Apr 2015 161,252 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Offside Rear Brake pipe leaking (3.6.A.1)

Oil leak

Pass 25 Apr 2014 153,801 miles
Fail 25 Apr 2014 153,800 miles

Bonnet cannot be secured in the closed position (8.4.1)

Offside Rear passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.B.1c)

Rear fog lamp excessively damaged so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.3.2d)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 24 Jan 2013 147,433 miles
Fail 21 Jan 2013 147,432 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Front Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on (8.2.1b)

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

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

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

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Pass 6 Feb 2012 139,360 miles
Fail 3 Feb 2012 139,352 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

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

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

Steering box has relative movement between sector shaft and the drop arm (2.2.B.1b)

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.C.1a)

Pass 10 Feb 2011 130,442 miles

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

Nearside Rear Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

Offside Front Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

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

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

wiper arm worn

Pass 22 Jan 2010 123,569 miles

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

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

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

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

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

Pass 9 Jan 2009 112,907 miles

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

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

Pass 11 Jan 2008 102,946 miles

slight play in rear suspension bushes

Pass 26 Jan 2007 93,132 miles

park brake lever travel

steering arm dust cover damage

Rear Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

horn switch

Pass 13 Jan 2006 826,052 miles

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

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

S485 BAX is a 1999 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 67.9%.

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 S485 BAX, 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 S485 BAX?

You can check the full history of S485 BAX by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S485 BAX registered?

S485 BAX is a 1999 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 22 February 1999.

Is S485 BAX safe to buy?

The MOT history for S485 BAX shows 28 tests with a 67.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does S485 BAX 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 S485 BAX. 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.