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TKM 256X

1981 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires18 Oct 2026
Tests22 (16 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate72.7%

Mileage

618 mi
Last recorded618 miles
Recorded on9 Oct 2025
Typical for 1981 Land Rover Defender59,707 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationTKM 256X
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1981
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

16 pass 6 fail
Pass 9 Oct 2025 618 miles

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

Pass 19 Oct 2024 166 miles

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

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

Pass 28 Sep 2023 99,752 miles

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

Pass 26 Oct 2022 98,719 miles

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

Pass 6 Nov 2021 97,748 miles

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

Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively (6.1.7 (c) (i))

Pass 12 Sep 2020 97,096 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear pipe greased (1.1.11 (c))

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

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing ALL tyres perished (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 27 Aug 2015 96,843 miles
Fail 26 Aug 2015 96,843 miles

Front Front position lamp(s) has less than 50% of the light sources illuminating (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Front Front position lamp(s) has less than 50% of the light sources illuminating (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Nearside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Offside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Offside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering (6.1.A.1)

Offside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

no centra seat beit not fitted from new. n/s/f trackrod end slight play. o/s/f and n/s/f front half shrafts leaking oil .

Pass 28 Jul 2014 96,250 miles
Pass 10 Oct 2013 96,019 miles
Fail 9 Oct 2013 96,017 miles

Battery insecure (1.9.1)

Nearside Service brake is causing the steering wheel to severely pull one way (3.7.C.2) DANGEROUS

Pass 5 Oct 2012 95,351 miles
Fail 5 Oct 2012 95,351 miles

Nearside Service brake is causing the steering wheel to severely pull one way (3.7.C.2)

Offside Front Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Rear reflector missing (1.5.1a)

Pass 29 Sep 2011 94,229 miles
Fail 27 Sep 2011 95,228 miles

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

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Pass 18 Dec 2009 94,786 miles
Fail 18 Dec 2009 94,784 miles

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

Service brake is causing the steering wheel to severely pull one way (3.7.C.2)

Pass 22 Dec 2008 94,110 miles

exhaust has wire supporting on bracket

nearside floor holed but not within 30 cm of load member bearing

Fail 17 Dec 2008 94,107 miles

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

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

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

Windscreen has damage to the swept area in excess of a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

exhaust has wire supporting on bracket

nearside floor holed but not within 30 cm of load member bearing

Pass 17 Dec 2007 93,066 miles
Pass 1 Dec 2006 91,226 miles

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

Pass 19 Dec 2005 73,642 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

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TKM 256X is a 1981 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72.7%.

Across all 1981 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.1% with a typical mileage of 59,707 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

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 TKM 256X, 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 45 years old, this Land Rover Defender is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of TKM 256X?

You can check the full history of TKM 256X by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was TKM 256X registered?

TKM 256X is a 1981 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 11 August 1981.

Is TKM 256X safe to buy?

The MOT history for TKM 256X shows 22 tests with a 72.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does TKM 256X 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 TKM 256X. 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.