2009 Land Rover Defender 2.4L Diesel · YP59 HVR

The vehicle’s most recent MOT test, conducted on 12 December 2025 at 70,252 miles, passed but carried four advisories—oil leakage, perishing tyres across all four positions, and worn front brake discs. This marks a consistent pattern of deferred maintenance, as three of the four advisories from December 2024 (including the same oil leak and tyre degradation) were repeated despite the vehicle failing on 5 December 2024. The December 2023 test was clean, suggesting the current issues emerged between 2023 and 2024 and have since remained unresolved. The trend is clearly worsening, with no evidence of proactive replacement or repair of critical components like tyres or brakes, which are now approaching failure thresholds. The recorded mileage of 72,652 miles over 17 years—roughly 4,274 miles annually—is unusually low for a vehicle of this age, particularly given the repeated tyre advisories. The gap between the 2022 and 2023 tests (approximately 1,800 miles in a year) suggests periods of inactivity, which could explain why consumables like tyres and brakes have deteriorated at an accelerated rate. The failure in December 2024, just one day before the subsequent pass, implies the tester may have been lenient or that minor non-compliance was overlooked. This pattern raises questions about whether the vehicle has been regularly serviced or driven under conditions that exacerbate wear. A buyer should prioritise an immediate inspection of the tyres, as all four have shown signs of perishing or excessive wear, with the front tyres from 2022 already flagged as worn close to the legal limit. The repeated oil leak advisories suggest potential issues with the engine’s oil seals or sump gasket, which could lead to catastrophic failure if ignored. Front brake discs are worn and pitted, indicating uneven braking performance and potential binding calipers. Structural components such as suspension bushes, coil springs, and wheel bearings should also be examined for corrosion or excessive play, as these are often overlooked in low-mileage vehicles but can deteriorate rapidly due to age and moisture. The lack of major failures despite the advisories does not negate the need for urgent attention to these recurring issues.