Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1989 Citroen C25?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1989 Citroen C25?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1989 Citroen C25?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 1989 Citroen C25 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

43% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 1989 Citroen C25 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 174 vehicles, the 1989 Citroen C25 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 62.2%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1989 Citroen C25?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1989 Citroen C25 are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (43.3% of vehicles), Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (42.3% of vehicles), Oil leak (41.4% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1989 Citroen C25?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Citroen C25 (1989)

174 real MOT outcomes analysed • 62.2% first-time pass rate

1989 Citroen C25

CarHunch analysed 174 real MOT records for the 1989 Citroen C25. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 1989 Citroën C25 is a genuinely problematic buy: just 62.2% pass first time, well below the UK average of 80%, and a alarming 43.1% of these vans have recorded dangerous defects—far higher than acceptable. This suggests systemic structural or safety issues rather than minor wear, which is a serious red flag for any buyer.

These are old workhorses averaging over 100,000 miles, and the numbers reflect it—4.8 failures and 21.1 advisories per vehicle tell you these vans are heavy on maintenance and repairs. Before committing to one, budget for a thorough pre-purchase inspection by a specialist who knows these vehicles, and treat any candidate with a clean MOT history as the exception rather than the rule.

We have limited data for the 1989 Citroen C25 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

62.2%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

43.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.8

Over 13 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

95k

Middle half: 71k–119k

For context

These stats describe 174 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 174 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 43.3%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 42.3%

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Other issues 41.4%

Oil leak · Oil leak, but not excessive

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1989.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 174 Citroen C25 cars.

Before you buy a 1989 Citroen C25

Based on MOT data from 174 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 43.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (91%)	158	62.6%	4.53

Mileage Distribution

Most 1989 Citroen C25 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

94,932

typical

71,445

low mileage

119,470

high mileage

Half of all 1989 Citroen C25 vehicles fall between 71,445 and 119,470 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 71,445 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 71,445–119,470 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1989 Citroen C25s sit.

⚠ Over 161,284 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1989 Citroen C25 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 27% of 1989 Citroen C25s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 22 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (27% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.8

Avg failures per vehicle

21.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Citroen C25: All C25 years → Which year to buy? →

1990 1991 1992 1993

Or browse all models: Citroen →

Compare with another model

See how the 1989 Citroen C25 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on