CarVerify

Free Car Check

SY53 RFX

2003 Land Rover Discovery

Black Diesel 2495cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires24 Feb 2027
Tests31 (20 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate64.5%

Mileage

130,999 mi
Last recorded130,999 miles
Recorded on25 Feb 2026
Typical for 2003 Land Rover Discovery100,620 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationSY53 RFX
MakeLand Rover
ModelDiscovery
Year2003
ColourBlack
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 25 Feb 2026 130,999 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Fail 11 Feb 2026 130,998 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

Brake performance unable to be tested major fluid leak (1.2.1 (g))

Central Rear Seat belt not functioning as intended (7.1.2 (c))

Fuel tank leaking (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play rear track rod (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Vehicle structure excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.1.6 (i) (i))

Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play rear track rod (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Rear Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Pass 3 Feb 2025 119,107 miles

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material to rear brake pipes corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing 255/65/16 (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 255/65/16 (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front windscreen slight stone chip

Nearside Rear Upper bump stop rubber missing

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Upper bump stop rubber missing

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

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

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

Fail 3 Feb 2025 119,107 miles

Central Rear Seat belt not functioning as intended (7.1.2 (c))

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material to rear brake pipes corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing 255/65/16 (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 255/65/16 (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front windscreen slight stone chip

Nearside Rear Upper bump stop rubber missing

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Upper bump stop rubber missing

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

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

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

Pass 26 Jan 2024 107,121 miles

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

Fail 22 Jan 2024 107,093 miles

Front Service brake is causing the vehicle to swerve to the offside imbalance (1.2.1 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Inner Tyre has ply or cords exposed wall (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Pass 20 Feb 2023 95,521 miles

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

oil leak

Pass 29 Dec 2020 95,113 miles

n/s/f tyre close to legal limit

o/s reversing light inoperative

oil leaks

some bits of corrosion under car

tyres slightly perished

Fail 22 Dec 2020 95,107 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

n/s/f tyre close to legal limit

o/s reversing light inoperative

oil leaks

some bits of corrosion under car

tyres slightly perished

Fail 30 Nov 2020 95,099 miles

Central Rear Seat belt not functioning as intended (7.1.2 (c))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp likely to become detached (4.5.1 (c) (ii))

Offside Rear Seat belt not functioning as intended (7.1.2 (c))

Offside Rear Towbar excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.1.6 (i) (i))

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

Horn not working properly (7.7 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Also perished (5.2.3 (e))

Oil leak, but not excessive Engine and diff (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear fog lamp lens defective which has no effect on emitted light Both rear lens broken (4.5.1 (b) (i))

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

Pass 25 Sep 2019 93,134 miles

both front tyres perished in tread areas

brake ferrules slightly corroded

oil leaks

rear chassis corroded

Fail 24 Sep 2019 93,128 miles

Central Seat belt not functioning as intended (7.1.2 (c))

Nearside Front Body component damaged and likely to cause injury bumper (6.2.1 (a) (i))

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

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

both front tyres perished in tread areas

brake ferrules slightly corroded

oil leaks

rear chassis corroded

Pass 24 Jan 2019 88,948 miles
Fail 15 Jan 2019 88,946 miles

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Rear Towbar excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting chassis (6.1.6 (i) (i))

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

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Rear Seat belt not functioning as intended centre (7.1.2 (c))

Pass 11 Jan 2018 83,567 miles
Fail 6 Dec 2017 83,558 miles

Central Rear Seat belt retracting mechanism defective (5.2.5b)

Central Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 23 May 2017 81,530 miles

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Fail 10 May 2017 81,456 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Pass 6 Oct 2015 77,179 miles

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

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

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

Fail 5 Oct 2015 77,179 miles

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

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 255-65/16 (4.1.E.1)

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

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

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

nearside front tyre perished

Pass 9 Oct 2014 71,901 miles

all 4 tyres perished on outer sidewalls

front & rear pads close to limits

Pass 16 Sep 2013 68,381 miles
Pass 8 Oct 2012 64,710 miles

Offside front bump stop missing. ( Broken. )

Pass 16 Sep 2011 59,118 miles
Pass 5 Nov 2010 53,937 miles

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

Fail 5 Nov 2010 53,937 miles

Front Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

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

Pass 20 Jan 2010 48,132 miles
Pass 19 Jan 2009 43,456 miles
Pass 31 Jan 2008 38,281 miles
Pass 9 Nov 2007 37,633 miles

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

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

Pass 5 Oct 2006 28,065 miles

How Reliable is the Land Rover Discovery?

Based on 4,388,972 MOT tests across 325,470 vehicles.

72.7%
Pass Rate
6,904
Miles/Year
36
Year Lifespan
325,470
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Brake pipe excessively corroded 153,632
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 141,712
Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 136,366
position lamp(s) not working 91,214
Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush 88,089
Full Land Rover Discovery 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

SY53 RFX is a 2003 Land Rover Discovery in Black with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.5%.

Across all 2003 Land Rover Discovery models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.2% with a typical mileage of 100,620 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 Discovery fails its MOT is brake pipe excessively corroded, accounting for 153,632 recorded failures. If you're considering buying SY53 RFX, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Land Rover Discovery typically stays on UK roads for around 36 years. At 23 years old, this Land Rover Discovery is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of SY53 RFX?

You can check the full history of SY53 RFX by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was SY53 RFX registered?

SY53 RFX is a 2003 Land Rover Discovery, first registered on 6 October 2003.

Is SY53 RFX safe to buy?

The MOT history for SY53 RFX 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 SY53 RFX 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 SY53 RFX. 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.