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S557 RDG

1999 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires7 May 2027
Tests31 (20 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate64.5%

Mileage

170,321 mi
Last recorded170,321 miles
Recorded on28 Apr 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

RegistrationS557 RDG
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1999
ColourBlue
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 28 Apr 2026 170,321 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement front bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Seat belt buckle slightly damaged (7.1.2 (d))

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

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

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

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing x4 (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 1 Apr 2026 170,258 miles

Emissions unable to be completed major exhaust leak (8.2.2.2 (e))

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases central to rear (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting central outer mount (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Front Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting floor (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting central outer mount (6.2.2 (d) (i))

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

Prop shaft securing bolt loose gear box side (6.1.7 (a) (i))

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

Windscreen washer jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen jet missing (3.5 (a))

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement front bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Seat belt buckle slightly damaged (7.1.2 (d))

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

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

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

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

Pass 1 May 2025 169,601 miles

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

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

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

surface corrosion to whole of chassis

Pass 8 May 2024 168,624 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 2 Mar 2023 167,827 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Fail 30 Jan 2023 167,796 miles

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

Offside Rear Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced crossmember (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

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

Pass 12 Jan 2022 164,860 miles

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

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

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

Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge both (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 27 Nov 2020 162,906 miles

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

Rear Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush both (5.3.2 (c))

Pass 29 Apr 2019 159,041 miles

Offside Rear Tyre obviously under inflated (5.2.3 (h) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Track rod end ball joint has slight play rear track off side track rod end (2.1.3 (b) (i))

front steering rack rod / nearside tack track rod end slight play in ball joint

oil leak from engine

Pass 23 Apr 2018 156,816 miles

Brake pipe slightly corroded across offside chassis front to rear / one pipe (3.6.B.2c)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases rear tail pipe (7.1.2)

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened drivers side (5.2.2a)

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

engine oil level low

oil leak from engine

Fail 23 Apr 2018 156,816 miles

Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering box fitted) (2.2.A.1a)

Steering column universal joint insecure lower u/j joint to steering box (2.1.5) DANGEROUS

Brake pipe slightly corroded across offside chassis front to rear / one pipe (3.6.B.2c)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases rear tail pipe (7.1.2)

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened drivers side (5.2.2a)

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

engine oil level low

oil leak from engine

Pass 8 May 2017 152,174 miles

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

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

Nearside Front Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

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

Fail 28 Apr 2017 152,171 miles

Lower Steering column universal joint insecure (2.1.5)

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively drivers side (8.2.2)

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

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

Nearside Front Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

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

rear prop shaft front bolts not fully secure

Pass 7 May 2016 146,260 miles

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

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases flexi joint (7.1.2)

Nearside Front & offside front swivel joints leaking

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

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

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

oil leak

Fail 28 Apr 2016 146,126 miles

Nearside Front Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

Nearside Rear Halfshaft bolt missing x2 on drive flange (4.2.B.3)

Offside Front Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

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

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

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases flexi joint (7.1.2)

Nearside Front & offside front swivel joints leaking

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

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

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

oil leak

Pass 18 Apr 2015 139,240 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

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

Pass 21 Jan 2014 135,960 miles
Fail 21 Jan 2014 135,960 miles

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

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

Pass 17 Jan 2013 123,337 miles

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

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

Pass 16 Jan 2012 111,975 miles

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

Fail 12 Jan 2012 111,943 miles

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

Centre Statutory seat belt missing (5.1.1)

Offside Front Brake pipe fouled by moving parts (3.6.B.2a)

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

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

Pass 18 Jan 2011 99,992 miles

rear brake pipes across back axle slightly corrcded

unable to see brake pads

Fail 18 Jan 2011 99,988 miles

Emissions not tested (7.0)

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Registration plate lamp shows direct white light to the rear (1.1.C.1f)

Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

rear brake pipes across back axle slightly corrcded

unable to see brake pads

Pass 11 Jan 2010 89,715 miles

slight play in steering arm damper bush

unable to see brake discs and pads

Fail 6 Jan 2010 89,709 miles

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

Front Steering arm damaged and unserviceable (2.2.C.1d)

Front registration plate missing (6.3.1a)

slight play in steering arm damper bush

unable to see brake discs and pads

Pass 15 Jan 2009 76,075 miles

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

Fail 15 Jan 2009 76,072 miles

Driver's door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

Offside Front Windscreen wiper blade insecure (8.2.2)

Rear registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Pass 17 Jan 2008 62,196 miles

slight play in offside rear wheel bearing

Pass 8 Jan 2007 47,192 miles
Fail 8 Jan 2007 47,178 miles

Front Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (4.1.D.1f)

Nearside Front Drag link end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f) DANGEROUS

track rod ends not checked due to play in drag link

Pass 24 Nov 2005 33,069 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

S557 RDG is a 1999 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.5%.

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 S557 RDG, 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 S557 RDG?

You can check the full history of S557 RDG by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S557 RDG registered?

S557 RDG is a 1999 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 17 February 1999.

Is S557 RDG safe to buy?

The MOT history for S557 RDG 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 S557 RDG 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 S557 RDG. 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.