Land Rover Defender (1982)
1982 Land Rover Defender
CarHunch analysed 201 real MOT records for the 1982 Land Rover Defender. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
What to check before buying a 1982 Land Rover Defender
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 25.9% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Land Rover Defender
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (50%) | 101 | 63.3% | 3.36 |
| Diesel (49%) | 99 | 71.1% | 2.8 |
| LPG (0%) | 1 | 61.5% | 10 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1982 Land Rover Defender vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1982 Land Rover Defender vehicles fall between 31,976 and 80,719 miles.
1982 Land Rover Defender — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 14 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2024 (20% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2024.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1982 Land Rover Defender
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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52.2%
Oil leak
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31.5%
Oil leak, but not excessive
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31.3%
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid
-
23.3%
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive
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20.5%
Brakes imbalanced across an axle
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19.3%
Offside Rear fog lamp not working
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16.5%
Nearside Stop lamp not working
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15.8%
Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1982. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Land Rover Defender?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.