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YS03 XSH

2003 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires12 May 2027
Tests28 (19 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate67.9%

Mileage

126,839 mi
Last recorded126,839 miles
Recorded on22 Apr 2026
Typical for 2003 Land Rover Defender86,068 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationYS03 XSH
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year2003
ColourBlue
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,495cc

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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 9 fail
Pass 22 Apr 2026 126,839 miles
Pass 13 May 2025 124,493 miles
Fail 13 May 2025 124,491 miles

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

Intermediate drop arm insecure (2.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 15 Jul 2024 122,751 miles
Pass 19 Jul 2023 119,440 miles

Central Rear Suspension arm ball joint has slight play A - frame to axle (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 19 Jul 2022 115,081 miles
Pass 21 Jul 2021 110,926 miles
Pass 6 Aug 2020 107,890 miles
Fail 5 Aug 2020 107,890 miles

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

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 12 Aug 2019 104,820 miles
Fail 7 Aug 2019 104,820 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))

Front Windscreen washer jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen (3.5 (a))

Pass 27 Jul 2018 101,747 miles
Pass 27 Jul 2017 97,842 miles
Fail 27 Jul 2017 97,841 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Offside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Pass 10 Aug 2016 94,690 miles

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

Fail 9 Aug 2016 94,685 miles

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

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 7 Aug 2015 911,176 miles

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Fail 7 Aug 2015 911,176 miles

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

Pass 7 Aug 2014 84,748 miles
Fail 31 Jul 2014 84,745 miles

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

Hazard warning switch faulty (1.4.B.1d)

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Rear propshaft, rear universal joint worn to excess

Pass 29 Jun 2011 71,585 miles
Fail 28 Jun 2011 71,585 miles

Fuel system component leaking (7.2.3)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 19 Jul 2010 59,224 miles

REAR DISCS SLIGHTLY PITTED

Pass 7 Jul 2009 42,761 miles
Fail 7 Jul 2009 42,761 miles

Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 26 Jun 2008 35,504 miles
Pass 8 Jun 2007 30,965 miles
Pass 14 Jun 2006 23,347 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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YS03 XSH is a 2003 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 67.9%.

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 YS03 XSH, 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 YS03 XSH?

You can check the full history of YS03 XSH by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was YS03 XSH registered?

YS03 XSH is a 2003 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 27 June 2003.

Is YS03 XSH safe to buy?

The MOT history for YS03 XSH shows 28 tests with a 67.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does YS03 XSH 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 YS03 XSH. 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.