Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1991 LDV 400?

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 1991 LDV 400?

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 1991 LDV 400?

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 1991 LDV 400 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 109 vehicles, the 1991 LDV 400 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 64%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1991 LDV 400?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1991 LDV 400 are: Service brake: efficiency below requirements (43.4% of vehicles), Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (37.6% of vehicles), Offside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (37.1% 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 1991 LDV 400?

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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LDV 400 (1991)

109 real MOT outcomes analysed • 64% first-time pass rate

1991 LDV 400

CarHunch analysed 109 real MOT records for the 1991 LDV 400. 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 MOT Averages Compare Models

The 1991 LDV 400 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 64%, which is 16 percentage points below the UK average of 80%—a significant reliability gap that suggests these vans are prone to faults. With 16.5% of vehicles having suffered a dangerous defect at some point, buyers should expect to budget for repairs and have any purchase inspected thoroughly by a mechanic before committing.

At nearly 100,000 miles on the median example, these vans are showing their age with an average of 1.95 failures and 6.4 advisories per test, pointing to wear on brakes, suspension, and ancillary systems rather than catastrophic mechanical failure. If you're considering one, insist on a full pre-purchase inspection and factor in regular servicing costs—this is a vehicle that will demand attention to stay safe and roadworthy.

We have limited data for the 1991 LDV 400 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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

64%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

16.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.95

Over 4.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

98k

Middle half: 71k–131k

For context

These stats describe 109 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 109 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 43.4%

Service brake: efficiency below requirements · Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · rear brake application uneven · …

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

Suspension & steering 37.6%

Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush · Offside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush · Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel · …

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

Other issues 12.2%

Oil leak

Wipers & washers 10.7%

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

Seat belts 9.3%

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1991.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 109 LDV 400 cars.

Before you buy a 1991 LDV 400

Based on MOT data from 109 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 16.5% 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 (81%)	88	63.3%	1.93

Mileage Distribution

Most 1991 LDV 400 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.

98,230

typical

70,790

low mileage

131,011

high mileage

Half of all 1991 LDV 400 vehicles fall between 70,790 and 131,011 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 70,790 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.

✓ 70,790–131,011 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1991 LDV 400s sit.

⚠ Over 176,864 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

4.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.95

Avg failures per vehicle

6.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — LDV 400: All 400 years → Which year to buy? →

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Or browse all models: LDV →

Compare with another model

See how the 1991 LDV 400 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on