1997 Land Rover Defender 2.5L Diesel · R39 VEC
1997 Land Rover Defender (2.5L, diesel). First registered 01/08/1997. Recorded mileage 176,414 miles. MOT valid until 13/07/2027. Taxed until 01/10/2026.
- Make & Model
- LAND ROVER DEFENDER
- Year / Origin
- 1997 · Reading
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Valid until 13/07/2027
- Road Tax
- Taxed (01/10/2026)
- Recorded Mileage
- 176,414 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
R39 VEC Key Findings
- 5 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 29/06/2026
- 176,414 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 2 historical MOT failures
- No defects recorded at the latest MOT
- Recurring brakes items (3 mentions)
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
MOT Roadworthiness: Good
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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R39 VEC Mileage History
- 23/07/2024172,832 mi
- 03/10/2024172,850 mi+18 mi
- 15/07/2025174,161 mi+1,311 mi
- 29/06/2026176,414 mi+2,253 mi
- 29/06/2026176,414 mi
Average of roughly 1,853 miles per year across 5 recorded odometer readings.
R39 VEC 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 (R39 VEC) between July 2024 and June 2026.
The record contains 3 passes and 2 failures.
The most recent test on 29 June 2026 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: Brakes (3 issues), Bodywork (3 issues), Suspension (2 issues), Windscreen (1 issue). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
In total 3 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: “Nearside Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mo”; “Offside Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mou”; “Central Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))”.
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Vehicles registered in the same regional DVLA batch as R39VEC.