Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1991 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel?

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 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel?

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 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel?

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.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1991 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel?

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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Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel (1991)

5,327 real MOT outcomes analysed • 6.1% first-time pass rate

1991 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel

CarHunch analysed 5,327 real MOT records for the 1991 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 73.9% below UK average

6.1%

pass MOT first time

UK average: ~80%

90,745

typical mileage

61,793–117,355 middle half

1.6%

ever had a dangerous defect

recorded at any MOT

0.15

avg MOT failures per car

over 1.3 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1991 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel

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

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

Inspection

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (99%)	5,271	6.2%	0.15
Petrol (1%)	56	3.2%	0.18

Mileage Distribution

Most 1991 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel 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.

61,793

low mileage

90,745

typical

117,355

high mileage

Half of all 1991 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel vehicles fall between 61,793 and 117,355 miles.

1991 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel — Still on the Road

13 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2017 — 52% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2017.

MOT History Averages

1.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.15

Avg failures per vehicle

0.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Found a specific Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

Other model years — Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel:

1989 1990 1992 1993 1994 1995