Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1997 Daewoo Leganza?

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 1997 Daewoo Leganza?

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 1997 Daewoo Leganza?

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.

Is the 1997 Daewoo Leganza reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,089 vehicles, the 1997 Daewoo Leganza has a first-time MOT pass rate of 70.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1997 Daewoo Leganza?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1997 Daewoo Leganza are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (38.2% of vehicles), Oil leak (26% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (21.3% 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 1997 Daewoo Leganza?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Daewoo Leganza (1997)

1,089 real MOT outcomes analysed • 70.2% first-time pass rate

1997 Daewoo Leganza

CarHunch analysed 1,089 real MOT records for the 1997 Daewoo Leganza. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

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 Colour Breakdown Compare Models

At 70.2%, this Leganza's first-time pass rate sits noticeably below the UK average of 80%, signalling that these cars are aging less gracefully than most vehicles from this era—though the 13% dangerous defect rate isn't alarming enough to be a major red flag on its own. The average 1.61 failures per vehicle suggests systemic wear rather than isolated problems, so any prospective buyer should expect repair costs beyond the routine.

These cars are averaging 78,668 miles, which is reasonable for vehicles now 27 years old, but the 4.4 average advisories indicate creeping mechanical issues across multiple systems. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on suspension, cooling, and electrical systems—the advisory pattern suggests these are the weak points that accumulate as a Leganza ages.

The 1997 Daewoo Leganza has a below-average first-time pass rate (70.2% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

70.2%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

13%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.61

Over 4.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

76k

Middle half: 60k–92k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 4.4 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 1,089 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 1,089 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 38.2%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

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

Other issues 26%

Oil leak

Tyre wear 21.3%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Wipers & washers 15%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Lighting 12.5%

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour · Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated · Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1997.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,089 Daewoo Leganza cars.

Before you buy a 1997 Daewoo Leganza

Based on MOT data from 1,089 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 13% 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 (100%)	1,087	70.1%	1.62

Colour Breakdown

Based on 10,235 Daewoo Leganza vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 29%

2,968

Green 20.9%

2,137

Blue 13.1%

1,340

Red 10.5%

1,070

Brown 8.2%

840

Black 7.7%

788

Grey 4.5%

461

White 4.2%

427

Maroon 1.2%

120

Beige 0.8%

Bronze 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1997 Daewoo Leganza 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.

75,738

typical

60,038

low mileage

91,973

high mileage

Half of all 1997 Daewoo Leganza vehicles fall between 60,038 and 91,973 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 60,038 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.

✓ 60,038–91,973 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1997 Daewoo Leganzas sit.

⚠ Over 124,163 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1997 Daewoo Leganza — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 30% of 1997 Daewoo Leganzas are still active.

Numbers are declining — 10 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2018 (30% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2018.

MOT History Averages

4.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.61

Avg failures per vehicle

4.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Daewoo Leganza: All Leganza years → Which year to buy? →

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Or browse all models: Daewoo →

Compare with another model

See how the 1997 Daewoo Leganza stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on