CarVerify

Free Car Check

A25 SWB

1988 Land Rover Defender

White Diesel 2494cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires9 Oct 2026
Tests22 (18 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate81.8%

Mileage

242,646 mi
Last recorded242,646 miles
Recorded on3 Oct 2025
Typical for 1988 Land Rover Defender127,342 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationA25 SWB
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1988
ColourWhite
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,494cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

18 pass 4 fail
Pass 3 Oct 2025 242,646 miles
Pass 17 Sep 2024 237,009 miles
Pass 22 Sep 2023 230,449 miles

rear a frame ball joint dust cover starting to perish

Pass 29 Sep 2022 225,509 miles
Pass 10 Sep 2021 223,232 miles
Pass 5 Oct 2020 220,383 miles
Fail 5 Oct 2020 220,378 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Nearside Rear Other passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

Offside Rear Other passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

Pass 27 Sep 2019 214,274 miles
Pass 10 Oct 2018 205,571 miles
Pass 19 Sep 2017 200,418 miles
Pass 16 Sep 2016 196,720 miles
Pass 22 Sep 2015 192,734 miles

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Fail 22 Sep 2015 192,734 miles

Front registration plate character(s) likely to be misread (6.3.4b)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Pass 10 Jul 2014 188,697 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Pass 27 Jun 2013 182,383 miles

Nearside Ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 12 Jul 2012 175,266 miles
Fail 11 Jul 2012 175,266 miles

Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine (7.4.B.3b)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 28 Jun 2011 169,303 miles
Pass 23 Jun 2010 164,127 miles

osr brake binding on

Pass 16 Jul 2009 158,748 miles
Pass 13 Jan 2006 151,164 miles
Fail 14 Dec 2005 151,150 miles

Brake pedal creeps down when held under pressure (3.3.B.1a)

Brake pedal spongy (3.3.B.1b)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Front Panhard rod rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Power steering component(s) leaking from a failed seal (2.3.3b)

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) leaking from a joint (2.3.3b)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1a)

Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Bonded suspension unit deteriorated but can function as intended (2.4.F.3)

Rear Torque/reaction arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

How Reliable is the Land Rover Defender?

Based on 2,960,045 MOT tests across 181,953 vehicles.

72.3%
Pass Rate
3,550
Miles/Year
43
Year Lifespan
181,953
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush 77,499
Brake pipe excessively corroded 77,229
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 57,749
position lamp(s) not working 53,914
Stop lamp not working 52,341
Full Land Rover Defender reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

A25 SWB is a 1988 Land Rover Defender in White with a 2,494cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 81.8%.

Across all 1988 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.9% with a typical mileage of 127,342 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Land Rover Defender fails its MOT is shock absorber has an excessively worn bush, accounting for 77,499 recorded failures. If you're considering buying A25 SWB, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Land Rover Defender typically stays on UK roads for around 43 years. At 38 years old, this Land Rover Defender is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of A25 SWB?

You can check the full history of A25 SWB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was A25 SWB registered?

A25 SWB is a 1988 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 30 December 1988.

Is A25 SWB safe to buy?

The MOT history for A25 SWB shows 22 tests with a 81.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A25 SWB have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on A25 SWB. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.