1997 Land Rover Defender 2.5L Diesel · R31 OAB
1997 Land Rover Defender (2.5L, diesel). First registered 01 Aug 1997. Recorded mileage 202,757 miles. MOT valid until 20 Jul 2027. Taxed until 01 Apr 2027.
- Make & Model
- LAND ROVER DEFENDER
- Year / Origin
- 1997 · Reading
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Valid until 20 Jul 2027
- Road Tax
- Taxed (01 Apr 2027)
- Recorded Mileage
- 202,757 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.
R31 OAB Key Findings
- 5 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 22/07/2026
- 202,757 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 3 historical MOT failures
- 3 defects noted at the latest MOT
- Recurring lighting items (10 mentions)
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
R31 OAB 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 1997 Land Rover Defender (R31 OAB) between May 2025 and July 2026.
The record contains 2 passes and 3 failures.
The most recent test on 22 July 2026 was a pass, although the earlier record includes 3 failures that buyers may want to investigate.
Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Lighting (10 issues), Exhaust & Emissions (3 issues), Suspension (3 issues), Brakes (1 issue), Steering (1 issue). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
In total 16 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))”; “Offside Front Power steering component leaking (2.1.5 (a))”; “Nearside Front Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush excessively worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))”.
R31 OAB Mileage History
- 27/05/2025196,392 mi
- 04/06/2025196,433 mi+41 mi
- 27/05/2026202,664 mi+6,231 mi
- 16/07/2026202,725 mi+61 mi
- 22/07/2026202,757 mi+32 mi
Average of roughly 5,521 miles per year across 5 recorded odometer readings.
Technical Specifications
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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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