CarVerify

Free Car Check

YK53 UTG

2003 Land Rover Defender

Silver Diesel 2495cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires6 Aug 2027
Tests34 (19 pass, 15 fail)
Pass rate55.9%

Mileage

243,027 mi
Last recorded243,027 miles
Recorded on7 Aug 2026
Typical for 2003 Land Rover Defender86,068 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 £9.99

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

RegistrationYK53 UTG
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year2003
ColourSilver
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 15 fail
Pass 7 Aug 2026 243,027 miles
Fail 5 Aug 2026 243,026 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

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

Nearside Front Shock absorbers likely to become detached (5.3.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Shock absorbers likely to become detached (5.3.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 23 Jun 2025 235,054 miles
Fail 13 Jun 2025 235,050 miles

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

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

Brake pipe at imminent risk of failure or fracture front to rear (1.1.11 (a)) DANGEROUS

Drag link end ball joint worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment (2.1.3 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Wheel bearing play so excessive that directional control is impaired (5.1.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Pass 7 Jun 2024 227,156 miles

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Fail 3 Jun 2024 227,155 miles

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

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

Offside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Brake valve leaking caliper leaking (1.1.7 (d) (i))

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

Rear Prop shaft bearing likely to break up (6.1.7 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Pass 16 May 2023 218,041 miles

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

Fail 13 May 2023 218,040 miles

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

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

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

Pass 30 Nov 2021 204,271 miles
Fail 29 Nov 2021 204,271 miles

Nearside Front Steering linkage ball joint has excessive play lowe swivle bearing excaes play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage damaged and seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

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

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

Pass 27 Nov 2020 194,195 miles

both front wings have accident damage but no sharp edges

Fail 25 Nov 2020 194,195 miles

Exhaust emissions exceed level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine (8.2.2.2 (b))

Headlamp aim too low both (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

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

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

Pass 11 May 2019 175,696 miles
Fail 7 May 2019 175,696 miles

Brake pedal has insufficient reserve travel (1.1.2 (a))

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

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

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

Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Front Driver's door catch missing no door handle (6.2.3 (c) (ii))

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

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

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage likely to fail (5.3.3 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 24 Apr 2018 161,531 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fail 19 Apr 2018 161,531 miles

Central Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 24 Apr 2017 147,335 miles

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

Fail 20 Apr 2017 147,335 miles

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

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1a)

Service brake is causing the steering wheel to severely pull one way pulls to right ....rear disc heavily corroed ns braking effort poor (3.7.C.2) DANGEROUS

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

Pass 9 Apr 2016 136,751 miles
Fail 30 Mar 2016 136,751 miles

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

Pass 23 Apr 2015 127,086 miles

all brake pipes slightly corroded slight oil leak on steering box seat belts slightly fluffed and have been trapped in door but ok

Pass 24 Apr 2014 116,564 miles

ALL BRAKE PIPES ALL ROUND VEHICLE SLIGHTLY CORRODED

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

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

Rear Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Fail 24 Apr 2014 116,564 miles

Ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front position lamp(s) has less than 50% of the light sources illuminating (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

ALL BRAKE PIPES ALL ROUND VEHICLE SLIGHTLY CORRODED

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

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

Rear Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 24 Apr 2013 106,808 miles

Nearside Front Lower Steering pivot point has slight play (2.2.B.1g)

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

Fail 24 Apr 2013 106,808 miles

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

Nearside Front Lower Steering pivot point has slight play (2.2.B.1g)

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

Pass 28 Mar 2012 97,449 miles

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

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

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

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

Fail 27 Mar 2012 97,448 miles

Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine (7.4.B.3b)

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 31 Mar 2011 87,965 miles
Fail 24 Mar 2011 661,725 miles

Brake servo leaking (3.6.C.1c)

Brake servo leaking (3.6.C.1c)

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

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

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1a)

Fail 10 Mar 2010 75,979 miles

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

front number plate slightly deteriated

os/f disc with slight pitting

Pass 10 Mar 2010 75,979 miles

front number plate slightly deteriated

os/f disc with slight pitting

Pass 28 Feb 2009 66,003 miles
Pass 13 Dec 2007 54,232 miles
Pass 16 Aug 2006 40,668 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

YK53 UTG is a 2003 Land Rover Defender in Silver with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 34 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 55.9%.

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 YK53 UTG, 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 YK53 UTG?

You can check the full history of YK53 UTG by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was YK53 UTG registered?

YK53 UTG is a 2003 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 3 September 2003.

Is YK53 UTG safe to buy?

The MOT history for YK53 UTG shows 34 tests with a 55.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does YK53 UTG 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 YK53 UTG. 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.