2001 Land Rover Defender 2.5L Diesel · Y174 BAH

The Land Rover Defender presents a stable roadworthiness trend with no recorded defects across its five most recent MOT tests. The June 2025 test at 61,760 miles passed clean, following the June 2024 pass at 60,687 miles and the June 2023 pass at 51,935 miles. This unbroken sequence of passes with zero advisories indicates the vehicle has been maintained to a standard that satisfies annual statutory inspection without flagged wear or corrosion. Recorded mileage sits at 61,760 against a 2001 build, an average of roughly 2,470 miles per year. The history shows a long static period: the February 2021 test at 51,210 miles and April 2022 test at 51,687 miles reflect only 477 miles in over a year, then 248 miles to the June 2023 figure of 51,935. A sharp 8,752-mile jump occurred between June 2023 and June 2024, after which the vehicle settled back to 1,073 miles by June 2025. Such low overall use with intermittent standing implies light duty but raises the risk of perished rubber components and seized mechanisms from disuse rather than fatigue. A buyer should still commission an in-person inspection of suspension bushes, coil springs, and brake calipers for binding after the vehicle's extended dormant spells. The clean MOT record does not exempt the chassis from structural rust given the Defender's age and steel ladder-frame construction exposed to road salt. Check the exhaust system and emissions hardware closely, as twenty-five years of age can conceal internal rot not visible at test. Verify the drivetrain oils and transfer box for moisture ingress from low-mileage storage before committing to purchase.