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

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 Cx?

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 Cx?

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 Cx vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

22% 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 Cx reliable?

Based on MOT data from 127 vehicles, the 1989 Citroen Cx has a first-time MOT pass rate of 67%, 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 Cx?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1989 Citroen Cx are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (66.7% of vehicles), Oil leak (56% of vehicles), Oil leak, but not excessive (29.6% 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 Cx?

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 Cx (1989)

127 real MOT outcomes analysed • 67% first-time pass rate

1989 Citroen Cx

CarHunch analysed 127 real MOT records for the 1989 Citroen Cx. 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 CX has a first-time MOT pass rate of 67%, well below the UK average of 80%, signalling that these cars are generally less reliable than their peers. More concerning, 22.1% of vehicles in this cohort have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is notably high and warrants serious pre-purchase inspection.

At nearly 100,000 miles median mileage, these cars have typically been well-used over their 35 years, yet they're still accumulating an average of 2.2 failures and 6.6 advisories per test—suggesting age and wear are catching up with them fast. If you're considering one, budget for remedial work immediately after purchase and have a trusted mechanic examine the MOT history in detail, particularly the dangerous defect records.

We have limited data for the 1989 Citroen Cx — 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

67%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

22.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.2

Over 7.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

99k

Middle half: 81k–124k

For context

These stats describe 127 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 127 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 66.7%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Parking brake lever has no reserve travel · Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. · …

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

Other issues 56%

Oil leak · Oil leak, but not excessive · Horn not working

Suspension & steering 18.2%

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded

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

Exhaust & emissions 18.2%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive

Wipers & washers 18.2%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Seat belts 15.1%

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded

Lighting 13.2%

Offside Rear fog lamp not working · Offside Headlamp aim too low

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

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 127 Citroen Cx cars.

Before you buy a 1989 Citroen Cx

Based on MOT data from 127 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 22.1% 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
Petrol (66%)	84	67.3%	2.01

Mileage Distribution

Most 1989 Citroen Cx 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.

99,275

typical

81,310

low mileage

123,894

high mileage

Half of all 1989 Citroen Cx vehicles fall between 81,310 and 123,894 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 81,310 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.

✓ 81,310–123,894 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1989 Citroen Cxs sit.

⚠ Over 167,256 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 Cx — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 63% of 1989 Citroen Cxs are still active.

17 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 63% of the peak remain.

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

7.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.2

Avg failures per vehicle

6.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1986 1988

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Buyer beware — pass it on