1988 Land Rover Defender 2.5L Diesel · F956 VEW
1988 Land Rover Defender (2.5L, diesel). First registered 01 Aug 1988. Recorded mileage 126,987 miles. MOT valid until 22 Oct 2026.
- Make & Model
- LAND ROVER DEFENDER
- Year / Origin
- 1988 · Nottingham
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Valid until 22 Oct 2026
- Road Tax
- —
- Recorded Mileage
- 126,987 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.
F956 VEW Key Findings
- 25 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 24/10/2025
- 126,987 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 9 historical MOT failures
- No defects recorded at the latest MOT
- Recurring brakes items (10 mentions)
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
F956 VEW MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
25 MOT tests are recorded for this 1988 Land Rover Defender (F956 VEW) between September 2005 and October 2025.
The record contains 16 passes and 9 failures.
The most recent test on 24 October 2025 was a pass, although the earlier record includes 9 failures that buyers may want to investigate.
Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Brakes (10 issues), Lighting (8 issues), Bodywork (7 issues), Suspension (7 issues), Steering (4 issues). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
In total 17 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 Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))”; “Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))”; “Nearside Rear Service brake has no recorded effort at a wheel (1.2.1 (a) (ii))”.
F956 VEW Mileage History
- 06/09/200594,756 mi
- 20/09/200594,844 mi+88 mi
- 21/09/200697,379 mi+2,535 mi
- 27/09/200697,418 mi+39 mi
- 18/10/2007100,942 mi+3,524 mi
- 23/10/2007100,994 mi+52 mi
- 26/11/2008104,258 mi+3,264 mi
- 05/02/2010107,812 mi+3,554 mi
- 11/02/2010107,878 mi+66 mi
- 15/02/2011110,321 mi+2,443 mi
- 17/02/2011110,321 mi
- 05/03/2012112,881 mi+2,560 mi
- 14/03/2012112,921 mi+40 mi
- 22/03/2013115,177 mi+2,256 mi
- 11/04/2014116,911 mi+1,734 mi
- 23/06/2015118,654 mi+1,743 mi
- 16/09/201612,379 mi-106,275 mi
- 30/09/2016120,401 mi+108,022 mi
- 07/11/2017122,213 mi+1,812 mi
- 12/12/2019122,647 mi+434 mi
- 30/03/2021126,795 mi+4,148 mi
- 30/04/2021126,827 mi+32 mi
- 05/06/2024126,986 mi+159 mi
- 05/06/2024126,986 mi
- 24/10/2025126,987 mi+1 mi
Average of roughly 1,601 miles per year across 25 recorded odometer readings.
Recorded mileage decreased between one or more tests — a potential clocking indicator worth verifying before purchase.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
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Dimensions & Weights
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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.
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