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V161 FTA

1999 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires2 Feb 2027
Tests31 (21 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate67.7%

Mileage

159,767 mi
Last recorded159,767 miles
Recorded on20 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

RegistrationV161 FTA
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 10 fail
Pass 20 Jan 2026 159,767 miles

front discs and pads slightly worn

rear bump stops missing

Pass 3 Feb 2025 152,967 miles

Wheel bearing has slight play both front (5.1.3 (a) (i))

rear bump stop missing

Pass 30 Jan 2024 145,609 miles

Wheel bearing has slight play both front (5.1.3 (a) (i))

front outriggers corroded

Pass 20 Dec 2022 138,342 miles

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

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

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

o/s front outrigger corroded

Pass 20 Dec 2021 131,009 miles

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

Offside Drag link end ball joint has slight play coming off the drop arm (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Integral body structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Fail 20 Dec 2021 131,009 miles

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) incorrectly mounted locking pin insecure (1.1.13 (c)) DANGEROUS

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

Offside Drag link end ball joint has slight play coming off the drop arm (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Integral body structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Pass 17 Dec 2020 126,599 miles

Central Rear Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed lap belt (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

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

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

Offside Rear Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed in back lap belt (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Fail 3 Dec 2020 126,528 miles

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

Rear Exhaust silencer insecure (8.1.1 (b) (i))

Central Rear Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed lap belt (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

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

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

Offside Rear Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed in back lap belt (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Pass 17 Dec 2019 122,644 miles
Fail 9 Dec 2019 122,644 miles

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

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 19 Dec 2018 115,722 miles

Centre body mountings corroded

Rear axle 'A' frame ball joint has slight play

Pass 14 Dec 2017 112,999 miles

side step mounts corroded

Fail 28 Nov 2017 112,988 miles

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

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

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

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

central rear cross bar corroded

side step mounts corroded

Pass 5 Dec 2016 112,138 miles

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

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

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

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

rear cross-member corroded

Pass 30 Nov 2015 112,002 miles

Centre Rear Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

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

Nearside Front Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

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

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Fail 30 Nov 2015 112,001 miles

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

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

Centre Rear Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

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

Nearside Front Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

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

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 8 Dec 2014 111,627 miles

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

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

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

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

front wiper blades deteriorated

rear crossmember corroded

steering dampner has play in bush

Fail 8 Dec 2014 111,627 miles

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

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

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

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

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

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

front wiper blades deteriorated

rear crossmember corroded

steering dampner has play in bush

Pass 11 Dec 2013 110,491 miles

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

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

Rear Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

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

advanced corrosion outer ends of rear chassis crossmember BORDERLINE

corrosion to centre body to chassis mounts

corrosion to exhaust

small splits to wiperblades

surface corrosion to chassis in general

wiper arms worn

Fail 9 Dec 2013 110,491 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rear Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

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

advanced corrosion outer ends of rear chassis crossmember BORDERLINE

corrosion to centre body to chassis mounts

corrosion to exhaust

small splits to wiperblades

surface corrosion to chassis in general

wiper arms worn

Pass 21 Dec 2012 110,344 miles

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

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

Rear Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

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

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

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

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

corrosion to exhaust in general

wiper arms are worn

Fail 24 Oct 2011 108,107 miles

Front number plate end margins reduced

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

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

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Pass 24 Oct 2011 108,107 miles

Front number plate end margins reduced

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

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

Pass 7 Jan 2011 101,189 miles
Pass 20 Jan 2010 100,051 miles
Pass 21 Jan 2009 93,482 miles
Fail 16 Jan 2009 93,482 miles

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

Pass 15 Jan 2008 88,027 miles

Front Panhard rod has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

slight play steering damper bushes

Fail 15 Jan 2008 88,027 miles

Front Panhard rod has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

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

slight play steering damper bushes

Pass 12 Jan 2007 80,195 miles

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

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

Pass 12 Jan 2006 75,363 miles

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

V161 FTA 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 67.7%.

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 V161 FTA, 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 V161 FTA?

You can check the full history of V161 FTA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was V161 FTA registered?

V161 FTA is a 1999 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 19 November 1999.

Is V161 FTA safe to buy?

The MOT history for V161 FTA shows 31 tests with a 67.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does V161 FTA 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 V161 FTA. 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.