1986 Land Rover Defender 3.5L Petrol · C589 DBA
1986 Land Rover Defender (3.5L, petrol). First registered 01 Feb 1986. Recorded mileage 48,551 miles. MOT valid until 21 Mar 2027.
- Make & Model
- LAND ROVER DEFENDER
- Year / Origin
- 1986 · Cardiff
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Valid until 21 Mar 2027
- Road Tax
- —
- Recorded Mileage
- 48,551 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
- Fuel & Engine
- Petrol · 3.5L
- 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.
C589 DBA Key Findings
- 27 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 11/03/2026
- 48,551 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 6 historical MOT failures
- 3 defects noted at the latest MOT
- Recurring lighting items (22 mentions)
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
C589 DBA MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
27 MOT tests are recorded for this 1986 Land Rover Defender (C589 DBA) between March 2006 and March 2026.
The record contains 21 passes and 6 failures.
The most recent test on 11 March 2026 was a pass, although the earlier record includes 6 failures that buyers may want to investigate.
Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Lighting (22 issues), Suspension (8 issues), Brakes (7 issues), Bodywork (3 issues), Steering (3 issues). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
In total 16 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: “Nearside Front Upper Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering Hole under th”; “Offside Rear Rear fog lamp switch inoperative (4.5.3 (a))”; “Offside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mounti”.
C589 DBA Mileage History
- 11/03/200641,303 mi
- 11/03/200641,303 mi
- 07/03/200741,931 mi+628 mi
- 12/03/200741,932 mi+1 mi
- 08/03/200842,789 mi+857 mi
- 14/03/200943,404 mi+615 mi
- 13/03/201043,773 mi+369 mi
- 11/03/201144,018 mi+245 mi
- 08/03/201244,377 mi+359 mi
- 26/02/201344,613 mi+236 mi
- 26/02/201344,613 mi
- 17/02/201445,057 mi+444 mi
- 09/03/201545,471 mi+414 mi
- 02/03/201645,736 mi+265 mi
- 14/03/201746,015 mi+279 mi
- 20/02/201846,058 mi+43 mi
- 28/02/201946,101 mi+43 mi
- 19/02/202046,156 mi+55 mi
- 22/03/202146,194 mi+38 mi
- 10/03/202246,548 mi+354 mi
- 10/03/202246,548 mi
- 14/03/202346,633 mi+85 mi
- 20/03/202447,020 mi+387 mi
- 21/03/202447,020 mi
- 05/03/202547,352 mi+332 mi
- 11/03/202648,551 mi+1,199 mi
- 11/03/202648,551 mi
Average of roughly 362 miles per year across 27 recorded odometer readings.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
Identification & Status
Dimensions & Weights
Diagnostic & Valuation Intelligence
Estimate current market value
Generate an instant valuation benchmark based on live market listings, vehicle mileage, and recent dealer auction figures.
Known faults for Land Rover Defender (Classic L316)
Our database tracks 4 specific mechanical faults and recurring failure patterns identified across UK MOT testing stations for this generation.
MOT Roadworthiness: 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.
Vehicle & Plate History
Other vehicles on this plate
Similar Vehicles
Plate Neighbors
LAND ROVER DEFENDER 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 1986 model year cars.
Recently Checked UK Vehicles
Live vehicle history checks and MOT records recently queried by UK car buyers.