1996 Land Rover Defender 2.5L Diesel · P978 DST
1996 Land Rover Defender (2.5L, diesel). First registered 29 Aug 1996. Recorded mileage 201,698 miles. MOT expired on 01 Jun 2026.
- Make & Model
- LAND ROVER DEFENDER
- Year / Origin
- 1996 · Preston
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Expired on 01 Jun 2026
- Road Tax
- —
- Recorded Mileage
- 201,698 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.
P978 DST Key Findings
- 5 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 03/06/2025
- 201,698 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 2 historical MOT failures
- 8 defects noted at the latest MOT
- Recurring lighting items (14 mentions)
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
P978 DST MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
5 MOT tests are recorded for this 1996 Land Rover Defender (P978 DST) between January 2023 and June 2025.
The record contains 3 passes and 2 failures.
The most recent test on 03 June 2025 was a pass, although the earlier record includes 2 failures that buyers may want to investigate.
Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Lighting (14 issues), Brakes (8 issues), Suspension (5 issues), Exhaust & Emissions (4 issues), Bodywork (4 issues). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
In total 25 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: “Front Prop shaft joint excessively worn rear universal joint (6.1.7 (c) (i))”; “Rear Direction indicator adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.4.3 (b))”; “Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))”.
P978 DST Mileage History
- 21/01/2023199,155 mi
- 01/03/2023199,160 mi+5 mi
- 30/03/2024201,363 mi+2,203 mi
- 22/05/2025201,698 mi+335 mi
- 03/06/2025201,698 mi
Average of roughly 1,075 miles per year across 5 recorded odometer readings.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
Identification & Status
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MOT Roadworthiness: Below 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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