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YG03 NLR

2003 Land Rover Defender

Red Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires12 Aug 2027
Tests27 (17 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate63%

Mileage

144,138 mi
Last recorded144,138 miles
Recorded on15 Jul 2026
Typical for 2003 Land Rover Defender86,068 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationYG03 NLR
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

17 pass 10 fail
Pass 15 Jul 2026 144,138 miles

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

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

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

Fail 14 Jul 2026 144,138 miles

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

Nearside Rear 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 an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

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

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

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

Pass 28 Jul 2025 139,660 miles

Towbar component corroded, but not excessively (6.1.6 (a))

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

Fail 25 Jul 2025 139,660 miles

Driver's view of an obligatory external mirror significantly affected by an obstruction (3.1 (a) (ii))

Front Registration plate inscription illegible (0.1 (b))

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

Towbar attachment insecure (6.1.6 (c) (i))

Front Brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Front Prop shaft likely to become detached (6.1.7 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Rear Brake pipe at imminent risk of failure or fracture (1.1.11 (a)) DANGEROUS

Service brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.2.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Registration plate lamp throwing direct white light to the rear (4.7.1 (a))

Towbar component corroded, but not excessively (6.1.6 (a))

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

Pass 8 Aug 2024 135,523 miles

Rear Body component slightly loose Front Of Pickup Bed (6.2.1 (a) (i))

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

Fail 30 Jul 2024 135,523 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn Hockey Stick - 2 x Front Bushes (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

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

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting Chassis (6.1.6 (i) (i))

Offside Front Lower Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Drop Arm (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn Hockey Stick - 2 x Front Bushes (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Parking brake lever has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustment (1.1.6 (c))

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

Nearside Front Outer Obligatory mirror slightly damaged (3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Exhaust mounting defective Exhaust System Hitting Chassis (6.1.2 (a))

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

Rear Body component slightly loose Front Of Pickup Bed (6.2.1 (a) (i))

Rear Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively Rear Prop - Rear UJ (6.1.7 (c) (i))

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

Pass 3 Aug 2023 130,094 miles

Body not fully secure (6.2.2 (a) (i))

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

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

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

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

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

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

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

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

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

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

Steering box worn, but not excessively (2.1.1 (c) (i))

Steering damper bush worn

Pass 4 Aug 2022 123,674 miles

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

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

Offside Steering linkage ball joint has slight play pitman arm (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Pass 5 Aug 2021 118,020 miles

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

Pass 13 Aug 2020 112,206 miles

Both front hub seals seeping

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

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

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

Fail 11 Aug 2020 112,176 miles

Front Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements Excessively damaged (0.1 (d))

Nearside Front Steering locking device ineffective Nearside track rod end clamp not securing track rod end to track control arm, track rod end can turn and has play (2.1.3 (d))

Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt steering arm ball joint (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

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

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Both front hub seals seeping

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

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

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

Pass 9 Aug 2019 105,504 miles

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

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

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

Offside Windscreen wiper blade defective starting to split (3.4 (b) (i))

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

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

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

Pass 10 Aug 2018 97,001 miles

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

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

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

rear cross beam and chassis corroded

steering damper bush has play in it

Pass 7 Jan 2017 79,488 miles

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Pass 6 Aug 2015 73,952 miles

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

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

Fail 22 Jul 2015 73,928 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Registration plate lamp not illuminating the registration plate (1.1.C.1e)

Steering damper damaged and unserviceable (2.2.C.1d)

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

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

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

Fail 22 Mar 2014 68,305 miles

Nearside Rear Tie bar/rod attachment bracket/mounting insecure (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Windscreen wiper blade insecure (8.2.2)

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

Pass 22 Mar 2014 68,305 miles
Pass 26 Jan 2013 50,039 miles

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

Nail in nearside rear tyre

Nail in offside front tyre

Fail 25 Jan 2013 50,039 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nail in nearside rear tyre

Nail in offside front tyre

Pass 18 Feb 2012 48,243 miles

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

Fail 15 Feb 2012 48,243 miles

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

Brake hydraulic reservoir fluid level below minimum level (3.6.G.1b)

Driver's door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

Front Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on (8.2.1b)

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

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

Nearside Front Radius arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Nearside Rear Radius arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

Offside Front Radius arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Radius arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

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

Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering box fitted) (2.2.A.1a)

Front Steering arm deformed but serviceable (2.2.C.1d)

Fail 29 Feb 2008 36,612 miles

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

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

Offside Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

front drag link slightly bent

slight damp area around steering box

Pass 29 Feb 2008 36,612 miles

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

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

front drag link slightly bent

slight damp area around steering box

Pass 29 Mar 2007 30,176 miles
Fail 29 Mar 2007 30,176 miles

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Pass 23 Mar 2006 22,627 miles

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

OSF Brake Disc Sheild Missing

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

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

YG03 NLR is a 2003 Land Rover Defender in Red with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63%.

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 YG03 NLR, 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 YG03 NLR?

You can check the full history of YG03 NLR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was YG03 NLR registered?

YG03 NLR is a 2003 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 27 March 2003.

Is YG03 NLR safe to buy?

The MOT history for YG03 NLR shows 27 tests with a 63% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does YG03 NLR 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 YG03 NLR. 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.