CarVerify

Free Car Check

WIJ 8143

1989 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2495cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 Jan 2027
Tests25 (17 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate68%

Mileage

230,138 mi
Last recorded230,138 miles
Recorded on13 Jan 2026
Typical for 1989 Land Rover Defender127,912 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

RegistrationWIJ 8143
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1989
ColourGreen
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

17 pass 8 fail
Pass 13 Jan 2026 230,138 miles
Pass 29 Jan 2025 230,079 miles

Rear Parking brake binding slightly

Fail 27 Jan 2025 230,078 miles

All direction indicators not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Central Front Seat belt buckle missing (7.1.2 (d))

Central Front Seat belt retracting mechanism defective (7.1.2 (e))

Front Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Front Windscreen wiper not working (3.4 (a))

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Headlamp insecure (4.1.1 (c))

Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Rear Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

Central Front Lower Coolant leak ()

Rear Parking brake binding slightly

Rear Reverse light not working

Pass 9 Apr 2021 230,000 miles

Front both swivel ball seals slightly leaking

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material on caliper (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Nearside Front Upper Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn swivel pin (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material on caliper (1.1.11 (c))

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

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

Steering box has seepage (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Fail 30 Mar 2021 230,000 miles

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

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Front both swivel ball seals slightly leaking

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material on caliper (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Nearside Front Upper Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn swivel pin (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material on caliper (1.1.11 (c))

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

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

Steering box has seepage (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Pass 5 Mar 2020 229,570 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material on caliper (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Nearside Front Upper slight play swivel pin

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material on caliper (1.1.11 (c))

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

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

Fail 4 Mar 2020 229,570 miles

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material on caliper (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Nearside Front Upper slight play swivel pin

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material on caliper (1.1.11 (c))

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

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

Pass 27 Mar 2019 228,670 miles

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

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

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 22 Mar 2018 228,185 miles
Fail 20 Mar 2018 228,181 miles

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Rear fog lamp switch faulty (1.3.1a)

Pass 29 Mar 2017 224,658 miles

Brake pipe slightly corroded front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

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

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

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

Pass 21 Mar 2016 221,048 miles

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

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

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

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

fuel filler neck pipes damp but no leaks

Fail 18 Mar 2016 221,047 miles

Offside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a) DANGEROUS

Steering locking device insecure steering box arm (2.2.C.1g) DANGEROUS

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

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

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

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

fuel filler neck pipes damp but no leaks

Fail 25 Mar 2015 218,987 miles

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

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Oil leak

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

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

fuel filler neck hose looks damp but no leaks found

Pass 25 Mar 2015 218,987 miles

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

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Oil leak

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

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

fuel filler neck hose looks damp but no leaks found

Pass 13 Mar 2014 216,209 miles

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Oil leak

Fail 12 Mar 2014 216,202 miles

Front Steering arm has relative movement at its fixings (2.2.B.1h)

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

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Oil leak

Pass 6 Mar 2013 214,250 miles
Pass 20 Mar 2012 210,988 miles
Pass 31 Mar 2011 210,105 miles

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

Pass 29 Jul 2009
Pass 14 Jul 2008 206,046 miles

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

Nearside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

Offside Front Brake servo corroded but not excessively weakened (3.6.A.2b)

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

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

both rear bump stop rubbers missing

rear propshaft U.J joint excessively worn

Fail 2 Jul 2008 206,039 miles

Nearside Front Front position lamp(s) not in good working order (function impaired) (1.1.4a)

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Offside Front Brake master cylinder/servo mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (3.6.C.3)

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Rear Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.2.C.1h)

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

Nearside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

Offside Front Brake servo corroded but not excessively weakened (3.6.A.2b)

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

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

both rear bump stop rubbers missing

rear propshaft U.J joint excessively worn

Pass 25 Jun 2007 204,983 miles
Pass 20 May 2006 197,869 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

WIJ 8143 is a 1989 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68%.

Across all 1989 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.8% with a typical mileage of 127,912 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 WIJ 8143, 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 37 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 WIJ 8143?

You can check the full history of WIJ 8143 by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was WIJ 8143 registered?

WIJ 8143 is a 1989 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 9 August 1989.

Is WIJ 8143 safe to buy?

The MOT history for WIJ 8143 shows 25 tests with a 68% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does WIJ 8143 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 WIJ 8143. 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.