2002 Land Rover Defender 2.5L Diesel · D2 TJB

The Land Rover Defender presents as roadworthy following a clean pass on 3 November 2025 at 142,755 miles, with the maintenance trend appearing stable across the recent record. The vehicle cleared its final test with no defects recorded, though it had failed six days earlier on 28 October 2025 at 142,742 miles under a no-defects failure entry, suggesting an administrative or presentation issue at the test centre rather than a mechanical fault. Prior tests in March 2023, March 2024, and November 2025 all returned passes with no advisories, indicating no escalating wear pattern across the drivetrain, suspension, or braking systems. The recorded mileage of 142,755 against a 2002 build date equates to roughly 5,948 miles per year, which is low for a 24-year-old utility vehicle of this type. The gap between the March 2023 test at 140,614 miles and the March 2024 test at 141,797 miles shows only 1,183 miles covered in twelve months. From March 2024 to November 2025 the vehicle added just 958 miles, confirming extended periods of minimal use. Low annual mileage paired with the October 2025 failure and November 2025 pass within days implies the truck may have stood idle for long stretches before a sale prep was attempted. A buyer should still commission a physical inspection of chassis outriggers, bulkhead corners, and rear crossmember for corrosion, as Defenders of this era commonly suffer structural rust even when MOT records show no advisories. The suspension bushes, panhard rods, and swivel pin housings warrant hands-on checks for play given the vehicle's age and off-road design lineage. The brake discs and calipers should be stripped and measured, since standing vehicles develop binding calipers and surface pitting that a no-defects MOT will not always capture. The repeated no-defects failure and pass in late October and early November 2025 points to a seller addressing a paperwork or test-scheduling matter rather than rectifying worn components. Previous keepers clearly kept the mileage low and the test history clean, but the sparse record gives no visibility of intermediate servicing. Treat the clean MOT as a baseline only and verify mechanical condition independently before purchase.