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YB53 EMF

2003 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires17 Dec 2026
Tests31 (19 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate61.3%

Mileage

99,617 mi
Last recorded99,617 miles
Recorded on17 Dec 2025
Typical for 2003 Land Rover Defender86,068 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationYB53 EMF
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year2003
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

19 pass 12 fail
Pass 17 Dec 2025 99,617 miles

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

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Nearside Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

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

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

under side dirty and muddy

Fail 10 Dec 2025 99,617 miles

Brake hydraulic reservoir fluid level significantly below minimum level (1.1.10 (d) (ii))

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

Fuel tank insecure (6.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Upper Driver's door hinge insecure (6.2.3 (c) (ii))

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

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Driver's seat insecure (6.2.5 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Nearside Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

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

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

under side dirty and muddy

Pass 18 Dec 2024 98,065 miles

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

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

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

Steering box slight play between sector shaft and the drop arm (2.1.3 (a) (ii))

Pass 6 Dec 2023 96,493 miles

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Fail 29 Nov 2023 96,489 miles

Nearside Rear Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced Cross member (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Offside Rear Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced Cross member (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Windscreen wiper not working (3.4 (a))

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 1 Nov 2022 93,880 miles

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

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge at 2 mm (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front door check strap damaged

Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced cross member (6.1.1 (c) (i))

under side of vehicle muddy

Fail 20 Oct 2022 93,768 miles

Exhaust emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit (8.2.2.2 (a))

Rear Fuel pipe insecure including fuel filter (6.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Track rod end ball joint worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment badly worn and loose (2.1.3 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge at 2 mm (5.2.3 (e))

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

Offside Front door check strap damaged

Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced cross member (6.1.1 (c) (i))

under side of vehicle muddy

Pass 3 Nov 2021 90,498 miles

Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour but not likely to obscure the vision of other road users (8.2.2.2 (c))

n/s/f tracktor joint has slight play

Fail 7 Oct 2021 90,284 miles

Exhaust on a vehicle fitted with a diesel particulate filter emits visible smoke of any colour (8.2.2.2 (d))

Front Registration plate inscription illegible (0.1 (b))

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

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

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Steering rack has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering rack fitted) play in steering arm (2.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Halfshaft likely to become detached tracker joint (6.1.7 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Halfshaft likely to become detached tracker joint (6.1.7 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Pass 15 Oct 2020 86,597 miles
Fail 12 Oct 2020 86,594 miles

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

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

Nearside Front Halfshaft likely to become detached trcker joint (6.1.7 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Halfshaft likely to become detached tracker joint (6.1.7 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 3 Oct 2019 132,921 miles
Fail 2 Oct 2019 132,918 miles

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

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

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

Offside Front Steering column flexible coupling is excessively deteriorated (2.2.2 (c))

Pass 10 Oct 2018 79,293 miles
Fail 4 Oct 2018 79,289 miles

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

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Offside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

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

Pass 5 Oct 2017 74,541 miles
Fail 5 Oct 2017 74,533 miles

Drag link end loose (2.2.B.1d)

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

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

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

Pass 11 Oct 2016 70,994 miles
Fail 11 Oct 2016 70,992 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)

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

Pass 9 Oct 2015 77,111 miles
Fail 8 Oct 2015 67,210 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

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

Pass 13 Nov 2014 63,323 miles

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

Pass 15 Nov 2013 59,038 miles
Pass 13 Sep 2012 54,849 miles

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

Pass 13 Oct 2011 50,758 miles

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 23 Feb 2010 39,258 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)

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Fail 23 Feb 2010 39,258 miles

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 21 Jan 2009 29,474 miles
Pass 21 Feb 2008 25,564 miles
Pass 1 Feb 2007 25,447 miles
Fail 29 Jan 2007 25,447 miles

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

Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

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

Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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 EMF is a 2003 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 61.3%.

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 EMF, 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 EMF?

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

What year was YB53 EMF registered?

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

Is YB53 EMF safe to buy?

The MOT history for YB53 EMF shows 31 tests with a 61.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does YB53 EMF 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 EMF. 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.