2001 Land Rover Defender 2.5L Diesel · DA51 AEW

The Defender presents a currently roadworthy status following the February 2026 test cycle, with the maintenance trend appearing stable and free of recorded defects. The most recent pass came on 27 February 2026 at 156,805 miles after a failed attempt two days earlier on 25 February 2026 at the same mileage, where the tester logged no defects. An identical pattern occurred in February 2025, when the vehicle failed on 27 February 2025 at 151,539 miles with no defects listed, then passed later that same day. These paired fail-pass entries with zero faults recorded suggest administrative or presentation issues at the test centre rather than mechanical deterioration. The recorded mileage shows typical use for a 25-year-old vehicle. From the December 2023 test at 148,559 miles, the Land Rover covered roughly 3,000 miles to the February 2025 reading of 151,539 miles, then added about 5,266 miles by February 2026 at 156,805 miles. Annual averages sit near 6,272 miles, close to expected for the age. The DVSA history is sparse, with only three pass results and two defect-free fails across the visible period, so no consumable wear or structural concern is documented in the record. A buyer should still commission a physical inspection of chassis rails, bulkhead, and outriggers for corrosion, given the Defender's age and steel construction. The suspension bushes, coil springs, and brake discs warrant hands-on checks despite the clean MOT entries. The repeated same-day fail-pass pairs with no defects indicate the previous owner addressed test requirements promptly, but the absence of advisories offers no insight into approaching wear on tyres or exhaust emissions.