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YB53 EKV

2003 Land Rover Defender

Red Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires3 Jul 2026
Tests32 (19 pass, 13 fail)
Pass rate59.4%

Mileage

191,644 mi
Last recorded191,644 miles
Recorded on26 Jun 2026
Typical for 2003 Land Rover Defender86,068 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationYB53 EKV
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year2003
ColourRed
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

19 pass 13 fail
Fail 26 Jun 2026 191,644 miles

Central Steering box has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering box fitted) steering shockabsorber bush (2.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Lower Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush excessively worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

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

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

Nearside Indicator tell-tale inoperative (4.9.1 (a) (i))

Pass 4 Jul 2025 185,514 miles
Fail 24 Jun 2025 185,503 miles

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

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

Offside Front Wheel bearing rough when rotated (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Power steering component leaking pas box (2.1.5 (a))

Steering box has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel to the extent that safe steering is affected (steering box fitted) (2.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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))

Pass 23 Feb 2024 179,337 miles

Front steering damper bush slight play

Fail 16 Feb 2024 179,214 miles

Offside Front Brake pipe excessively damaged (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Lower Suspension component pin or bush excessively worn front bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Front steering damper bush slight play

Pass 8 Feb 2023 172,392 miles
Fail 8 Feb 2023 172,392 miles

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

Offside Position lamp showing white light to the rear (4.2.3 (a) (ii))

Pass 11 Feb 2022 165,316 miles

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

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

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

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

Fail 11 Feb 2022 165,316 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 16 Feb 2021 157,661 miles

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

Offside Rear Nail in tyre

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

steering damper bush worn

Fail 11 Feb 2021 157,591 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

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

Offside Front Inner Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Nail in tyre

steering damper bush worn

Pass 10 Feb 2020 150,492 miles

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

various signs of light corrosion to vehicle under side

Pass 8 Feb 2019 141,864 miles

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

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

Offside Front Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

slight play in steering damper bushes

Fail 8 Feb 2019 141,862 miles

Front Registration plate inscription illegible (0.1 (b))

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

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

Nearside Front Lower Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush excessively worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Offside Front Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

slight play in steering damper bushes

Pass 9 Feb 2018 132,197 miles

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

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

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

Fail 9 Feb 2018 132,189 miles

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

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

Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

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

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

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

Pass 23 Feb 2017 122,896 miles

front number plate cracked

steering damper bushes worn

Fail 23 Feb 2017 122,894 miles

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

Nearside Front Lower Axle swivel joint has excessive play (2.5.A.3b)

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

Offside Front Ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt drop arm (2.2.C.1c)

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

Offside Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1b)

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

front number plate cracked

steering damper bushes worn

Pass 2 Feb 2016 112,403 miles

front brake discs wearing thin

front brake pads low

rear brake pads low

slight noise from both front wheel bearings

slight play in both front lower swivel bearings

Pass 23 Feb 2015 102,521 miles

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

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

Nearside Front Seat belt flexible stalk damaged but not likely to lead to failure under load (5.2.4a)

Nearside Rear Lower Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

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

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

both front brake discs wearing thin

clutch pedal rubber missing

Fail 23 Feb 2015 102,521 miles

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

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

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

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

Nearside Front Seat belt flexible stalk damaged but not likely to lead to failure under load (5.2.4a)

Nearside Rear Lower Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

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

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

both front brake discs wearing thin

clutch pedal rubber missing

Pass 25 Feb 2014 93,107 miles

Centre Ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 2 Apr 2013 85,307 miles
Fail 25 Mar 2013 85,161 miles

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Pass 22 Mar 2012 76,867 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Fail 15 Mar 2012 76,737 miles

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

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

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

Pass 2 Mar 2011 72,931 miles
Pass 20 Oct 2009 63,300 miles

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

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

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

Pass 21 Oct 2008 52,238 miles
Fail 21 Oct 2008 52,209 miles

Nearside Front Drag link end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Nearside Rear Fluid suspension unit deteriorated and likely to fail (2.4.D.1b)

Offside Rear Fluid suspension unit damaged and likely to fail (2.4.D.1b)

Pass 18 Oct 2007 41,379 miles
Pass 20 Sep 2006 28,900 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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YB53 EKV is a 2003 Land Rover Defender in Red with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 32 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 59.4%.

Across all 2003 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.7% with a typical mileage of 86,068 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 YB53 EKV, 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 23 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 YB53 EKV?

You can check the full history of YB53 EKV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was YB53 EKV registered?

YB53 EKV is a 2003 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 28 November 2003.

Is YB53 EKV safe to buy?

The MOT history for YB53 EKV shows 32 tests with a 59.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does YB53 EKV 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 YB53 EKV. 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.