Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel Turbo (1990)
1990 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel Turbo
CarHunch analysed 680 real MOT records for the 1990 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel Turbo. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
This 1990 Leyland DAF 400 Series is in severe decline: just 4.9% pass first time against the UK average of 80%, meaning nearly 95 out of every 100 fail their MOT on first attempt. The dangerous defect rate of 1.5% is mercifully low, but the overall reliability picture is dire across the diesel variants that make up 99% of the cohort.
At an average mileage of 126,435 miles for a 34-year-old vehicle, these are typically high-mileage commercial units that have been worked hard, which explains why they average 0.11 failures and 0.3 advisories per test—cumulative wear is the enemy here. If you're considering one, treat it as a project requiring serious mechanical attention and budget for multiple remedial visits before it'll pass; this isn't a casual purchase.
What to check before buying a 1990 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel Turbo
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.
- 📄 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 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel Turbo
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (99%) | 671 | 4.8% | 0.11 |
| Petrol (1%) | 8 | 0% | 0 |
| LPG (0%) | 1 | 100% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1990 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel Turbo 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 1990 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel Turbo vehicles fall between 89,245 and 149,716 miles.
MOT History Averages
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