1996 Land Rover Defender 2.5L Diesel · P402 GKN

The Land Rover Defender presents as roadworthy following its most recent MOT pass on 24 November 2025 at 182,084 miles, with the maintenance trend appearing stable across the recorded history. The tester recorded no defects at that test. Three days earlier, on 21 November 2025 at 182,075 miles, the vehicle failed the MOT yet the record shows no defects listed; this suggests an administrative or presentation failure rather than a mechanical fault, and the swift re-test pass confirms the vehicle cleared inspection cleanly. Annual mileage has tracked close to typical use for a 30-year-old vehicle. The records show 170,622 miles on 28 November 2022, rising to 174,062 by 4 December 2023, then 178,114 on 2 December 2024, and 182,084 on 24 November 2025. That equates to roughly 3,500 to 4,000 miles per year in the logged period, below the long-term average of 6,069, implying light recent use. The data is sparse, with only five entries and no advisories or defects ever recorded, so the clean sheet gives no warning of pending wear. A buyer should still commission an in-person inspection of chassis and bulkhead structural integrity, as corrosion remains the principal risk on a 1996 Defender even when MOT records show no advisories. The suspension bushes, coil springs, and brake discs deserve physical checks for age-related degradation invisible to a defect-free test. Drivetrain components including swivel hubs and prop shaft joints should be examined for play given the 182,084-mile accumulation. The absence of recurring faults or flagged consumables means no worsening pattern exists in the official data. Previous keepers appear to have maintained basic test compliance, though the unexplained November 2025 failure warrants confirmation that no hidden defect was informally rectified between tests.