1997 Land Rover Discovery 2.5L Diesel · R56 KGH
1997 Land Rover Discovery (2.5L, diesel). First registered 01 Aug 1997. Recorded mileage 136,054 miles. MOT expired on 09 Oct 2015. Currently declared SORN.
- Make & Model
- LAND ROVER DISCOVERY
- Year / Origin
- 1997 · Reading
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Expired on 09 Oct 2015
- Road Tax
- SORN
- Recorded Mileage
- 136,054 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Non-Compliant (Pre-Euro 6 Diesel)
- Fuel & Engine
- DIESEL · 2.5L
- Reliability Guide
- Common Faults
Thinking of buying this vehicle? Free MOT and tax checks do not cover legal ownership. If outstanding finance exists, finance companies have legal right to repossess without compensation.
R56 KGH Key Findings
- 17 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 10/10/2014
- 136,054 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 7 historical MOT failures
- 2 defects noted at the latest MOT
- Recurring lighting items (27 mentions)
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
R56 KGH MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
17 MOT tests are recorded for this 1997 Land Rover Discovery (R56 KGH) between March 2006 and October 2014.
The record contains 10 passes and 7 failures.
The most recent test on 10 October 2014 was a pass, although the earlier record includes 7 failures that buyers may want to investigate.
Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Lighting (27 issues), Brakes (24 issues), Suspension (13 issues), Bodywork (7 issues), Steering (5 issues). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
In total 58 advisory notices are recorded. Advisories flag items that passed but may need attention before the next test; they are not evidence of how well the vehicle has been serviced.
Recorded failure items include: “Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)”; “Nearside Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.”; “Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)”.
R56 KGH Mileage History
- 14/03/200693,239 mi
- 04/10/200696,007 mi+2,768 mi
- 25/09/2007102,566 mi+6,559 mi
- 30/09/2008108,941 mi+6,375 mi
- 02/10/2008108,941 mi
- 23/09/2009115,044 mi+6,103 mi
- 29/09/2009115,102 mi+58 mi
- 18/09/2010120,584 mi+5,482 mi
- 24/09/2010120,693 mi+109 mi
- 21/09/2011125,502 mi+4,809 mi
- 22/09/2011125,524 mi+22 mi
- 08/09/2012129,699 mi+4,175 mi
- 08/10/2012129,897 mi+198 mi
- 07/09/2013133,076 mi+3,179 mi
- 20/09/2013133,193 mi+117 mi
- 20/09/2014135,915 mi+2,722 mi
- 10/10/2014136,054 mi+139 mi
Average of roughly 4,993 miles per year across 17 recorded odometer readings.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
Identification & Status
Dimensions & Weights
Diagnostic & Valuation Intelligence
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Known faults for Land Rover Discovery 1 (LSE)
Our database tracks 4 specific mechanical faults and recurring failure patterns identified across UK MOT testing stations for this generation.
MOT Roadworthiness: Below Average
This rating reflects historical MOT pass rates and recurring advisory wear patterns from official DVSA test logs. Note that roadworthiness does not verify outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen records.
Verify lender finance agreements, insurance write-offs, police stolen registers, and mileage rollback.
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LAND ROVER DISCOVERY Model Intelligence & Reliability
Verified MOT failure trends, buying advice, and technical directory specifications.
Owner-reported defects, recurring MOT failure points, and estimated repair costs.
Browse production generations, registration statistics, and trim variants.
Historical MOT pass rates and DVLA records for 1997 model year cars.
- Bodywork and Structural RustSerious
Inner front wings, wheel arches, sills, footwells and boot floor are highly prone to corrosion. The aluminium body panels hide steel underneath that rots badly.
- 300TDi Timing Belt FailureSerious
The 300TDi is an interference engine and timing belt failure causes valve-to-piston contact and catastrophic engine damage. Some belts have failed as early as 40,000 miles.
- Sunroof Leaks and Headlining SagModerate
Blocked sunroof drain tubes cause water to pour into the cabin, damaging electrics and causing rust. The headlining sags on later (1994+) models.
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