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VDO 1

1986 Land Rover Defender

Purple Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires27 Mar 2027
Tests30 (21 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate70%

Mileage

250,000 mi
Last recorded250,000 miles
Recorded on28 Mar 2026
Typical for 1986 Land Rover Defender124,952 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationVDO 1
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1986
ColourPurple
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,495cc
View full Land Rover Defender reliability data Browse other 1986 Land Rover Defender registrations

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 9 fail
Pass 28 Mar 2026 250,000 miles

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

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

Nearside Front hub seal leaking

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

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

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))

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

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

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

Fail 24 Mar 2026 250,000 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength x2 as chalked (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

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

Nearside Front hub seal leaking

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

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

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))

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

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

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

Pass 19 Mar 2025 250,000 miles

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

Nearside Front hub seal leaking

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

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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))

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

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

Fail 18 Mar 2025 250,000 miles

Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing (1.1.2 (c))

Offside Front Floor excessively deteriorated footwell (6.2.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Steering linkage ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Passenger's seat insecure (6.2.6 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Nearside Front hub seal leaking

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

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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))

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

Pass 27 Mar 2024 25,003 miles
Fail 25 Mar 2024 250,003 miles

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

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

Steering box has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering box fitted) drop arm joint (2.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Suspension arm attachment bracket/mounting likely to become detached (5.3.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Rear Prop shaft joint so worn it is likely to fail (6.1.7 (c) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 1 Mar 2023 250,003 miles

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Fail 28 Feb 2023 250,000 miles

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

Offside Front Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced bulk head next to pedals (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced seat base corroded as chalked (7.1.1 (a) (i))

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

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

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Pass 24 Mar 2022 249,160 miles

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

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

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

Fail 24 Mar 2022 249,158 miles

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

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

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

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

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

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

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

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

Pass 27 Mar 2021 244,635 miles
Fail 15 Mar 2021 244,634 miles

Brake pipe excessively corroded off side front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

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

Offside Front Lower Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Offside Rear Lower Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced near side out rigger (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced near side rear crossmember (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced off side front out rigger (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced off side rear chassis (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced off side rear crossmember (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Vehicle structure is fractured and structural rigidity is significantly reduced near side rear plate on side off chassis (6.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Intermediate drop arm pivot housing casing has relative movement to chassis/bodywork (2.1.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 13 Mar 2020 240,441 miles
Pass 12 Mar 2019 235,403 miles
Fail 8 Mar 2019 235,403 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 12 Mar 2018 230,248 miles
Pass 13 Mar 2017 224,832 miles
Pass 7 Mar 2016 218,766 miles

Free play in steering box

Pass 3 Mar 2015 213,206 miles

Offside Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Pass 24 Feb 2014 206,685 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

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

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

Pass 28 Feb 2013 198,128 miles
Pass 20 Mar 2012 193,750 miles

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

Pass 15 Mar 2011 188,134 miles
Fail 15 Mar 2011 188,125 miles

Front Bonnet retaining device ineffective (8.4.2)

Fail 11 Mar 2010 182,241 miles

Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

N/S Wiper Spilit

Nearside Headlamp aim too far to the left (1.8)

Oil leak

Pass 11 Mar 2010 182,241 miles

N/S Wiper Spilit

Oil leak

Pass 11 Mar 2009 175,831 miles
Pass 10 Mar 2008 170,900 miles
Pass 3 Mar 2007 164,521 miles

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

Pass 15 Mar 2006 159,419 miles

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

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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VDO 1 is a 1986 Land Rover Defender in Purple with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 30 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 70%.

Across all 1986 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 68.7% with a typical mileage of 124,952 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 VDO 1, 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 40 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 VDO 1?

You can check the full history of VDO 1 by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was VDO 1 registered?

VDO 1 is a 1986 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 31 December 1986.

Is VDO 1 safe to buy?

The MOT history for VDO 1 shows 30 tests with a 70% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does VDO 1 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 VDO 1. 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.