2021 Land Rover Defender Hard TOP D Mhev Auto 3.0L Diesel · JM57 ALL

A dangerous brake defect is the defining event in this Defender's record: in April 2026 the front inner brake pads were found worn to less than 1.5 mm thick, a failure serious enough to be classified dangerous, before the vehicle was retested and passed eight days later on 21 April 2026. That pass came with a recurring advisory for both front tyres being slightly damaged, cracking or perishing, which had also been noted on the failed test. Earlier history is cleaner: passes in April 2024 and March 2025 with no defects recorded, plus a minor advisory in April 2024 for light oil misting on the offside rear shock absorber. The overall trend is therefore not one of chronic deterioration, but the 2026 brake failure shows wear items were allowed to run to a dangerous limit before rectification, and the tyre advisory persisting across two tests suggests those tyres may still be on the vehicle. Recorded mileage stands at 33,455 miles at five years old, averaging roughly 6,700 miles per year, which is typical for the age and consistent with regular use rather than long-term standing. Testing has been annual with no significant gaps, and the mileage accumulation appears steady. This usage pattern is consistent with the wear observed: front brake pads wearing to the metal-adjacent limit at around 33,000 miles is plausible for a heavy vehicle of this type, and light shock absorber misting at three years old is an early-stage seep rather than a failure. On inspection, the priority is confirming the brake work was completed properly. Ask for evidence that both front pads and ideally the discs were replaced, and on a test drive check for a firm, progressive pedal with no judder under braking, no pull to either side, and no grinding or squeal, which would indicate uneven pad bedding or disc scoring from the period when the pads were critically thin. Examine the front tyres closely for the cracking and perishing flagged twice in 2026; if the same tyres remain fitted, budget for replacement, as perished sidewalls deteriorate further and can become an MOT failure or a safety concern at speed. The offside rear shock absorber misting from 2024 warrants a physical check underneath the vehicle: look for fresh oil weeping down the damper body or onto the lower mounting, and on the road listen for knocking over bumps and feel for excessive bounce or wallowing from that corner, which would indicate the misting has progressed to a leak requiring replacement. Given the single dangerous defect in an otherwise largely clean record, a prospective buyer should verify the rectification paperwork for the April 2026 brake work and treat the tyres and rear damper as live negotiation points rather than resolved matters.