CarVerify

Free Car Check

T885 MDA

1999 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires27 Jan 2027
Tests32 (21 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate65.6%

Mileage

164,642 mi
Last recorded164,642 miles
Recorded on28 Jan 2026
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

RegistrationT885 MDA
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

21 pass 11 fail
Pass 28 Jan 2026 164,642 miles
Pass 17 Jan 2025 163,433 miles

Front Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Pass 24 Jan 2024 159,510 miles

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

Fail 11 Dec 2023 159,502 miles

Nearside Rear Inner Vehicle structure excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting chassis (6.1.6 (i) (i))

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

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

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

Pass 20 Oct 2022 156,543 miles

Coil spring corroded both front and both rear (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing both and wearing low in tread (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Nearside Front swivel seal leaking

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material short feed pipe to brake caliper (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Hydraulic brake calliper corroded but not seriously weakened (1.1.16 (d) (i))

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

Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Front swivel seal retainer ring corroded badly

Rear Suspension component ball joint has slight play a frame (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

diesel fuel pump in engine bay damp further investigation require

Pass 10 Dec 2021 152,969 miles

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

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

Nearside Front swivel seal leaking

Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing both front and both rear (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 7 Dec 2021 152,968 miles

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn radius arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced cross member both sides (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

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

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

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

Nearside Front swivel seal leaking

Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

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

Rear Exhaust mounting defective silencer bracket (6.1.2 (a))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing both front and both rear (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

injector pump slight leak

Pass 1 Dec 2020 149,417 miles
Fail 28 Nov 2020 149,417 miles

Nearside Headlamp levelling device inoperative (4.1.5 (a))

Pass 11 Nov 2019 145,136 miles

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

Fail 8 Nov 2019 145,129 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))

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

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

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

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

Pass 25 Oct 2018 129,894 miles

N/S/F track rod end gaitor poor condition

Nearside Front wheel bearing slight play

Fail 19 Oct 2018 129,886 miles

Offside Front Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion to the extent that overall security or stability of the body is impaired excessively corroded around body mount by drivers door (6.2.2 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

N/S/F track rod end gaitor poor condition

Nearside Front wheel bearing slight play

Pass 19 Oct 2017 120,471 miles
Fail 19 Oct 2017 120,471 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

Pass 2 Nov 2016 116,879 miles

n/s wiper blade in poor condition

Fail 2 Nov 2016 116,879 miles

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

n/s wiper blade in poor condition

Pass 4 Nov 2015 101,930 miles
Pass 4 Nov 2014 90,638 miles
Pass 6 Nov 2013 79,313 miles

Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

o/s/f tyre in poor condition

Fail 29 Oct 2013 78,137 miles

Nearside Front Drag link end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Nearside Rear Seat belt has a cut which has significantly weakened the webbing (5.2.2a)

Nearside Rear Seat belt has a cut which has significantly weakened the webbing (5.2.2a)

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

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

Offside Front Seat belt damaged sufficient to significantly weakened the webbing (5.2.2a)

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

Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

o/s/f tyre in poor condition

Fail 11 Dec 2012 73,249 miles

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Pass 11 Dec 2012 73,249 miles

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

Pass 6 Oct 2011 66,481 miles
Fail 6 Oct 2011 66,468 miles

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Pass 29 Oct 2010 61,089 miles

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

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

Fail 28 Oct 2009 55,278 miles

Offside Rear fog lamp emits a light other than red (1.3.2e)

Pass 28 Oct 2009 55,278 miles
Pass 30 Oct 2008 50,244 miles
Pass 30 Oct 2007 45,327 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 11 Oct 2006 40,188 miles
Pass 13 Oct 2005 35,593 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

T885 MDA is a 1999 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 32 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65.6%.

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 T885 MDA, 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 T885 MDA?

You can check the full history of T885 MDA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was T885 MDA registered?

T885 MDA is a 1999 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 31 December 1999.

Is T885 MDA safe to buy?

The MOT history for T885 MDA shows 32 tests with a 65.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does T885 MDA 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 T885 MDA. 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.