2012 Land Rover Defender 2.2L Diesel · DC12 HDV

The vehicle is currently roadworthy, but the maintenance history reveals a trend of reactive rather than preventative care. While the Defender passed its most recent test in September 2025 at 87,239 miles, it failed that same day due to critical brake pipe corrosion and worn anti-roll bar bushes. The record shows a recurring pattern where significant mechanical wear and corrosion issues are only addressed after a test failure, suggesting the owner performs the minimum work required to maintain legal compliance. At 87,239 miles over 14 years, the vehicle averages approximately 6,200 miles per year. This low-use profile is typical for a utility vehicle of this age, but it explains the specific degradation issues noted in the records. Between the May 2023 test at 85,622 miles and the May 2024 test at 86,404 miles, the vehicle covered only 782 miles. Such long periods of low mileage often lead to accelerated corrosion on metal components like brake lines and the drying of rubber seals. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the braking system and chassis integrity. The history consistently flags excessive corrosion on brake pipes across both the front and rear axles, which persisted from 2023 through 2024 until late 2025. There is also documented evidence of oil leaks from the front differential and transfer box that have remained present for three consecutive years. The inspector should verify if these leaks are merely seeps or if they indicate seal failures requiring immediate replacement. The suspension geometry also requires close scrutiny. The tester has repeatedly identified damaged track rod end dust covers and worn anti-roll bar bushes between 2023 and 2025. Given that the rear brake discs were noted as pitted and scored since 2024, the buyer should check for minimum thickness and signs of caliper binding. The presence of perishing tyres in 2024 despite low mileage further confirms that rubber components are suffering from age-related decay rather than tread wear.