1997 Land Rover Defender 2.5L Diesel · R221 DHB
1997 Land Rover Defender (2.5L, diesel). First registered 22/09/1997. Recorded mileage 183,978 miles. MOT status: Expired.
- Make & Model
- LAND ROVER DEFENDER
- Year / Origin
- 1997 · Reading
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Valid until 02/10/2026
- Road Tax
- —
- Recorded Mileage
- 183,978 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Non-Compliant (Pre-Euro 6 Diesel)
- Fuel & Engine
- Diesel · 2.5L
- Reliability Guide
- Common Faults
- Fuel Type
- Diesel
- Year
- 1997
- Engine
- 2495cc
R221 DHB Key Findings
- 25 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 26/09/2025
- 183,978 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 4 historical MOT failures
- 3 defects noted at the latest MOT
- Recurring lighting items (17 mentions)
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
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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R221 DHB Mileage History
- 16/09/200566,118 mi
- 14/09/200673,953 mi+7,835 mi
- 14/09/200673,953 mi
- 10/09/200781,363 mi+7,410 mi
- 16/09/200890,743 mi+9,380 mi
- 15/09/200996,886 mi+6,143 mi
- 16/09/2010104,307 mi+7,421 mi
- 17/09/2011111,063 mi+6,756 mi
- 17/09/2012117,655 mi+6,592 mi
- 13/09/2013124,124 mi+6,469 mi
- 16/09/2014130,337 mi+6,213 mi
- 04/09/2015136,986 mi+6,649 mi
- 16/09/2016144,429 mi+7,443 mi
- 12/09/2017151,837 mi+7,408 mi
- 21/09/2018158,636 mi+6,799 mi
- 21/09/2018158,636 mi
- 24/09/2019165,198 mi+6,562 mi
- 28/09/2020167,932 mi+2,734 mi
- 01/10/2020168,016 mi+84 mi
- 27/09/2021170,387 mi+2,371 mi
- 04/10/2022174,058 mi+3,671 mi
- 04/10/2022174,058 mi
- 26/09/2023177,192 mi+3,134 mi
- 26/09/2024180,485 mi+3,293 mi
- 26/09/2025183,978 mi+3,493 mi
Average of roughly 5,885 miles per year across 25 recorded odometer readings.
R221 DHB 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 1997 Land Rover Defender (R221 DHB) between September 2005 and September 2025.
The record contains 21 passes and 4 failures.
The most recent test on 26 September 2025 was a pass, although the earlier record includes 4 failures that buyers may want to investigate.
Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Lighting (17 issues), Brakes (13 issues), Windscreen (3 issues), Bodywork (3 issues), Tyres (2 issues). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
In total 41 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: “Exhaust emissions exceed level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine (8.2.2.2 (b))”; “Exhaust on a vehicle fitted with a diesel particulate filter emits visible smoke of any colour (8.2.2.2 (d))”; “Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)”.
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