2002 Land Rover Defender 2.5L Diesel · FG51 MWE

The Land Rover Defender presents as roadworthy with a stable maintenance trend, evidenced by the most recent passed MOT on 15 April 2025 at 68,590 miles recording no defects. The test on the same date at 68,585 miles shows a failure with no defects logged, a known DVSA quirk where a retest pass follows an administrative fail. Across the five years from April 2022 to April 2025 the vehicle passed every test cleanly. No advisories or mechanical faults appear in the official record. The mileage pattern confirms exceptionally light use for a 24 year old vehicle. The record shows 66,021 miles in April 2022, rising to 67,228 in April 2023, 68,123 in April 2024, and 68,590 by April 2025. That totals just 2,569 miles over three years, around 856 miles per year. Such low annual accumulation suggests long periods of standing rather than regular road use, which on a 2002 Defender raises the risk of perished seals, stagnant fluids, and corrosion from inactivity rather than wear from distance. A buyer should still commission a physical inspection of structural integrity and chassis corrosion, as MOT pass records without advisories do not capture early surface rust on outriggers, bulkhead, or axle casings. The absence of flagged suspension bushes, coil springs, or brake disc wear in the data is reassuring, yet standing time can hide binding calipers and flat spotted tyres. Verify the brake system operates free of seizure and check all fluids for contamination before purchase. Given the clean history and minimal mileage, previous ownership appears to have stored the vehicle rather than neglected basic upkeep, but low use demands scrutiny of rubber components and exhaust emissions under cold start. The Defender remains a sound used buy on paper, subject to a hands on check of chassis condition and drivetrain lubrication.