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YP53 UCU

2003 Land Rover Defender

Black Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires22 Jan 2027
Tests22 (17 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate77.3%

Mileage

101,705 mi
Last recorded101,705 miles
Recorded on23 Jan 2026
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

RegistrationYP53 UCU
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year2003
ColourBlack
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 5 fail
Pass 23 Jan 2026 101,705 miles
Fail 11 Dec 2025 101,702 miles

Brake performance unable to be tested prop shaft likely to fail (1.2.1 (g))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Steering linkage fouling track arm (2.1.4 (a))

Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt rear axle a-frame (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Rear Prop shaft flexible coupling so deteriorated it is likely to fail (6.1.7 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 27 Nov 2024 100,440 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 25 Nov 2024 100,440 miles

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

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Direction indicator with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning (4.4.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 23 Dec 2022 100,085 miles
Pass 25 Nov 2021 99,544 miles

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

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

all metal brake pipes grease coated

Pass 13 Nov 2020 98,535 miles
Pass 3 Jul 2019 97,130 miles

Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

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

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 6 Aug 2018 96,363 miles

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

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

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

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

Fail 2 Aug 2018 96,362 miles

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

Electronic stability control warning lamp indicates a fault (7.12 (e))

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 24 May 2017 95,277 miles
Pass 23 May 2016 93,575 miles
Pass 26 Aug 2015 93,085 miles
Pass 14 May 2014 92,020 miles
Pass 8 Apr 2013 88,323 miles
Fail 5 Apr 2013 88,318 miles

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

Pass 13 Mar 2012 84,534 miles

Temporary fuel cap fitted

Pass 7 Mar 2011 77,341 miles
Fail 18 Feb 2011 77,314 miles

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

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

Pass 30 Nov 2009 66,101 miles
Pass 13 Oct 2008 554,755 miles
Pass 29 Sep 2007 42,850 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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YP53 UCU is a 2003 Land Rover Defender in Black with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 77.3%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 YP53 UCU, 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 YP53 UCU?

You can check the full history of YP53 UCU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was YP53 UCU registered?

YP53 UCU is a 2003 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 10 October 2003.

Is YP53 UCU safe to buy?

The MOT history for YP53 UCU shows 22 tests with a 77.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does YP53 UCU 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 YP53 UCU. 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.