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S542 BFF

1999 Land Rover Defender

Black Diesel 2500cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires22 Jan 2027
Tests26 (17 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate65.4%

Mileage

213,672 mi
Last recorded213,672 miles
Recorded on23 Jan 2026
Typical for 1999 Land Rover Defender106,873 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationS542 BFF
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1999
ColourBlack
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,500cc

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

17 pass 9 fail
Pass 23 Jan 2026 213,672 miles

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

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

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

Fail 23 Jan 2026 213,672 miles

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

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

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

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

Fail 7 Sep 2022 213,612 miles

Nearside Rear Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting Body mount marked with yellow chalk (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Nearside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Offside Front Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting Body mount marked with yellow chalk (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting Body mount marked with yellow chalk (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Steering wheel has excessive movement up and down (2.2.2 (a))

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick Both sides (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Steering box has excessive movement between sector shaft and the drop arm (2.1.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Age related surface rust

Hydraulic leak, but not excessive Steering box (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Lower door rusty

Offside Front Lower door rusty

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

Pass 1 Mar 2021 205,634 miles

Coil spring corroded All 4 (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

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

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

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

Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced A frame crossmember throughout (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Fail 24 Feb 2021 205,604 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Trailing arm mounting area (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced A frame crossmember above chassis (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Front Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced Outer rigger (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Trailing arm mounting area (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Coil spring corroded All 4 (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

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

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

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

Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced A frame crossmember throughout (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Pass 15 Feb 2020 202,356 miles

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

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

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Both sides near trailing arm mounts (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Fail 15 Feb 2020 202,356 miles

Nearside Drag link end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Both sides near trailing arm mounts (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Pass 23 Feb 2019 194,771 miles

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

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

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

Pass 19 Feb 2018 186,132 miles

Front Outer Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Both sides (2.4.A.3)

Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt Both (2.2.C.1c)

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

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

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

Pass 28 Feb 2017 179,123 miles

Nearside Front Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Offside Front Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

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

Pass 17 Feb 2016 174,242 miles
Pass 12 Feb 2015 173,210 miles
Pass 4 Feb 2014 170,824 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 1 Mar 2013 166,929 miles
Fail 1 Mar 2013 166,929 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

both rear tyre walls cracking

rear discs pitted

Pass 10 Jan 2012 159,685 miles

Nearside Front tyre cracked.

Fail 5 Jan 2012 159,681 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nearside Front tyre cracked.

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

Pass 18 Jan 2011 156,529 miles

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

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

Propshaft component defective

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

Pass 18 Jan 2010 148,629 miles

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

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

Oil leak

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

Rear Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

nearside wiper smearing slightly

Fail 9 Nov 2009 148,619 miles

Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine (7.4.B.3b)

Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Rear Fuel system component leaking (7.2.3)

Nearside Rear rear brake grabbing severely (3.7.A.5b)

Rear rear brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

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

Oil leak

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

large bolt in nearside front tyre

Pass 16 Dec 2008 143,349 miles
Fail 10 Dec 2008 143,077 miles

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

Centre Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Pass 6 Dec 2007 129,062 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 11 Dec 2006 116,424 miles
Fail 5 Dec 2006 116,167 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 19 Dec 2005 106,390 miles

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

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

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.

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S542 BFF is a 1999 Land Rover Defender in Black with a 2,500cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65.4%.

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 S542 BFF, 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 S542 BFF?

You can check the full history of S542 BFF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S542 BFF registered?

S542 BFF is a 1999 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 15 January 1999.

Is S542 BFF safe to buy?

The MOT history for S542 BFF shows 26 tests with a 65.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does S542 BFF 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 S542 BFF. 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.