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YT53 YYN

2003 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires27 Nov 2026
Tests38 (22 pass, 16 fail)
Pass rate57.9%

Mileage

77,825 mi
Last recorded77,825 miles
Recorded on28 Nov 2025
Typical for 2003 Land Rover Defender86,068 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationYT53 YYN
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year2003
ColourBlue
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

22 pass 16 fail
Pass 28 Nov 2025 77,825 miles
Fail 19 Nov 2025 77,696 miles

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

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Pass 8 Jan 2025 72,405 miles
Fail 3 Jan 2025 72,395 miles

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

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

Pass 22 Jul 2024 69,513 miles

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

Pass 17 Oct 2023 69,377 miles
Fail 14 Oct 2023 69,372 miles

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

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Parking brake lever travel requires attention.

Pass 25 Apr 2023 67,593 miles
Pass 31 Mar 2022 62,665 miles
Pass 31 Mar 2021 57,017 miles
Fail 11 Mar 2021 57,017 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nearside Oil leak, but not excessive swivel housing (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 21 Feb 2020 52,552 miles
Fail 12 Feb 2020 52,484 miles

Drag link end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt steering box end (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Fuel hose leaking (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))

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

Nearside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle (5.2.3 (f))

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

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

Offside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle (5.2.3 (f))

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

Rear Prop shaft joint excessively worn rear of (6.1.7 (c) (i))

Steering wheel has movement relative to the column indicating looseness (2.2.1 (a) (i))

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

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

steering damper bush worn

Pass 22 Feb 2019 51,448 miles

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

Fail 22 Feb 2019 51,448 miles

Brake pipe excessively corroded front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 31 Mar 2017 51,307 miles

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

n/s and o/s front lower shocker bushes worn

pads low o/s/f brake

steering damper bush worn

Fail 29 Mar 2017 51,306 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

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

Offside Front Steering pivot point has excessive play upper and lower swivel joint bearings play (2.2.B.1g)

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

n/s and o/s front lower shocker bushes worn

pads low o/s/f brake

steering damper bush worn

Pass 9 May 2016 48,179 miles
Fail 5 May 2016 48,179 miles

Centre Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded axle pipes (3.6.B.2c)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

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

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

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

Offside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Offside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Centre Rear u/j propshaft joint play

Front propshaft u/j joint excessively worn

Pass 7 May 2015 46,208 miles

Offside Front Axle swivel joint has slight play (2.5.A.3b)

Fail 5 May 2015 46,208 miles

Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour of any colour (7.4.B.4)

Fuel pipe leaking (7.2.3)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

Offside Front Axle swivel joint has slight play (2.5.A.3b)

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

Pass 23 May 2014 43,891 miles

SLIGHT PLAY IN OSF WHEEL BEARING

SLIGHT PLAY IN N/S AND O/S HOCKEY BUSHES

SLIGHT PLAY IN STERRING DAMPER BUSH

Fail 22 May 2014 43,891 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

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

SLIGHT PLAY IN N/S AND O/S HOCKEY BUSHES

SLIGHT PLAY IN OSF WHEEL BEARING

SLIGHT PLAY IN STERRING DAMPER BUSH

Pass 1 Oct 2013 42,896 miles

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

Fail 25 Sep 2013 42,896 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear brake disc contaminated by oil (3.5.1h)

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

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

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

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

Prop-shaft universal joint worn

Rear Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Pass 28 Sep 2012 39,798 miles

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Rear Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

Fail 25 Sep 2012 39,762 miles

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

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

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Rear Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

Pass 19 Sep 2011 36,092 miles
Fail 16 Sep 2011 36,098 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Front Axle swivel joint has excessive play in a swivel pin (2.5.A.3b)

Steering arm deformed and unserviceable (2.2.C.1d)

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

Pass 17 Aug 2010 29,503 miles
Pass 28 Sep 2009 26,842 miles
Fail 15 Sep 2009 26,842 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 25 Sep 2008 24,734 miles

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Offside Rear brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

Fail 25 Sep 2008 24,734 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the right. (1.8)

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Pass 9 Oct 2007 21,636 miles
Pass 12 Jun 2007 18,822 miles
Fail 12 Jun 2007 18,821 miles

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

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)

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

Offside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)

Pass 27 Sep 2006 13,226 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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YT53 YYN is a 2003 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 38 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 57.9%.

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 YT53 YYN, 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 YT53 YYN?

You can check the full history of YT53 YYN by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was YT53 YYN registered?

YT53 YYN is a 2003 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 26 September 2003.

Is YT53 YYN safe to buy?

The MOT history for YT53 YYN shows 38 tests with a 57.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does YT53 YYN 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 YT53 YYN. 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.