Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1995 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 1995 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 1995 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.

Is the 1995 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel reliable?

Based on MOT data from 131 vehicles, the 1995 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel has a first-time MOT pass rate of 16.4%, indicating below-average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1995 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 (1995)

131 real MOT outcomes analysed • 16.4% first-time pass rate

1995 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel

CarHunch analysed 131 real MOT records for the 1995 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel. 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 Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Compare Models

This 1995 Leyland DAF 400 is in serious trouble: only 16.4% pass the MOT first time, compared to the UK average of 80%. With a dangerous defect rate of just 2.3%, the risk isn't acute safety failures, but rather the sheer volume of non-dangerous faults that plague these vehicles.

At 105,500 miles median, these vans are relatively high-mileage for their age, yet they still rack up 0.48 failures and 1.3 advisories per test on average—suggesting wear and deterioration have genuinely caught up with the model. If you're considering one, budget heavily for repairs and plan to have a trusted mechanic do a comprehensive pre-purchase inspection, because most will need work before they'll pass MOT.

We have limited data for the 1995 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

First-time pass

16.4%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

2.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.48

Over 1.9 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

105k

Middle half: 91k–129k

For context

These stats describe 131 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.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 131 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel cars.

Before you buy a 1995 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel

Based on MOT data from 131 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 2.3% 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 →

Mileage Distribution

Most 1995 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel 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.

105,492

typical

90,690

low mileage

129,185

high mileage

Half of all 1995 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel vehicles fall between 90,690 and 129,185 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 90,690 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.

✓ 90,690–129,185 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1995 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesels sit.

⚠ Over 174,399 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

1.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.48

Avg failures per vehicle

1.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel: All 400 Series Diesel years → Which year to buy? →

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994

Or browse all models: Leyland Daf →

Compare with another model

See how the 1995 Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel stacks up against a rival.

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