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YJ53 LHE

2003 Land Rover Defender

Red Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires5 Oct 2026
Tests29 (20 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate69%

Mileage

72,649 mi
Last recorded72,649 miles
Recorded on30 Sep 2025
Typical for 2003 Land Rover Defender86,068 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationYJ53 LHE
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

20 pass 9 fail
Pass 30 Sep 2025 72,649 miles

Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Front & Rear (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Coil spring corroded All x 4 (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front & Rear door latches in poor condition

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

Offside rear mudflap mounting corroded

Slight play in steering box drop arm ball joint

Slight weep from Nearside rear hub seal

Slight weep from Offside & Nearside front hub seals

Fail 30 Sep 2025 72,649 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Front & Rear (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Coil spring corroded All x 4 (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front & Rear door latches in poor condition

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Offside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

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

Offside rear mudflap mounting corroded

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

Slight play in steering box drop arm ball joint

Slight weep from Nearside rear hub seal

Slight weep from Offside & Nearside front hub seals

Pass 30 Sep 2024 72,628 miles

Coil spring corroded All x 4 (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front & Rear door latches in poor condition

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

Offside rear mudflap mounting corroded

Slight play in steering box drop arm ball joint

Slight weep from Nearside rear hub seal

Slight weep from Offside & Nearside front hub seals

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing ALL X 4 (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 30 Sep 2024 72,628 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

Coil spring corroded All x 4 (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front & Rear door latches in poor condition

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

Offside rear mudflap mounting corroded

Slight play in steering box drop arm ball joint

Slight weep from Nearside rear hub seal

Slight weep from Offside & Nearside front hub seals

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing ALL X 4 (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 5 Oct 2023 72,489 miles

Coil spring corroded ALL X 4 (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front & Rear door latches in poor condition

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

Offside Rear fog lamp lens defective which has no effect on emitted light (4.5.1 (b) (i))

Offside rear mudflap mounting corroded

Slight play in steering box drop arm ball joint

Slight weep from Nearside rear hub seal

Slight weep from Offside & Nearside front hub seals

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing ALL 4 X TYRES (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 5 Oct 2023 72,489 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Valve stem seriously damaged (5.2.3 (j)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Valve stem seriously damaged (5.2.3 (j)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Valve stem seriously damaged (5.2.3 (j)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Valve stem seriously damaged (5.2.3 (j)) DANGEROUS

Coil spring corroded ALL X 4 (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front & Rear door latches in poor condition

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

Offside Rear fog lamp lens defective which has no effect on emitted light (4.5.1 (b) (i))

Offside rear mudflap mounting corroded

Slight play in steering box drop arm ball joint

Slight weep from Nearside rear hub seal

Slight weep from Offside & Nearside front hub seals

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing ALL 4 X TYRES (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 6 Oct 2022 72,410 miles

Coil spring corroded All x 4 (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Inner faces (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front & Rear door latches in poor condition

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

Offside Rear fog lamp lens defective which has no effect on emitted light (4.5.1 (b) (i))

Offside rear mudflap mounting corroded

Slight play in steering box drop arm ball joint

Slight weep from Nearside rear hub seal

Slight weep from Offside & Nearside front hub seals

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing ALL 4 X TYRES (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 30 Sep 2021 71,676 miles

Coil spring corroded All x 4 (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Inner faces (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

Slight weep from Nearside rear hub seal

Slight weep from offside & nearside front hub seals

Steering linkage ball joint has slight play Steering box drop arm (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing All 4 x tyre sidewalls (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 30 Sep 2021 71,676 miles

Coil spring corroded All x 4 (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Inner faces (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

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

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

Slight weep from Nearside rear hub seal

Slight weep from offside & nearside front hub seals

Steering linkage ball joint has slight play Steering box drop arm (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing All 4 x tyre sidewalls (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 2 Oct 2020 69,411 miles

Coil spring corroded Front & rear (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Inner faces (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Slight play in steering box drop arm ball joint

Fail 1 Oct 2020 69,411 miles

Driver's door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

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

Coil spring corroded Front & rear (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Inner faces (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

Slight play in steering box drop arm ball joint

Pass 30 Sep 2019 66,332 miles
Pass 2 Oct 2018 65,151 miles

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

slight play in steering joint from the steering box arm

Pass 11 Sep 2017 63,954 miles

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

Pass 28 Sep 2016 61,218 miles

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

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

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

Oil leak ()

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

Fail 22 Sep 2016 61,179 miles

Brake pipe excessively corroded front to rear both pipes (3.6.B.2c)

Fuel system component leaking fuel filter area (7.2.3)

Nearside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded on caliper (3.6.B.2c)

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

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

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

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

Oil leak ()

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

Pass 9 Sep 2015 58,672 miles

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

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

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

Pass 11 Sep 2014 55,894 miles
Fail 11 Sep 2014 55,865 miles

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

Pass 10 Sep 2013 53,405 miles

Offside Front Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

Pass 20 Sep 2012 50,030 miles
Pass 26 Sep 2011 46,876 miles
Pass 27 Sep 2010 44,785 miles
Fail 22 Sep 2010 4,720 miles

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

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

Pass 15 Sep 2009 39,945 miles
Pass 16 Sep 2008 36,352 miles
Pass 14 Sep 2007 34,655 miles
Pass 22 Sep 2006 28,544 miles
Fail 21 Sep 2006 28,544 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

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

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.

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YJ53 LHE is a 2003 Land Rover Defender in Red with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 69%.

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 YJ53 LHE, 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 YJ53 LHE?

You can check the full history of YJ53 LHE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was YJ53 LHE registered?

YJ53 LHE is a 2003 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 10 September 2003.

Is YJ53 LHE safe to buy?

The MOT history for YJ53 LHE shows 29 tests with a 69% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does YJ53 LHE 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 YJ53 LHE. 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.