Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1988 Peugeot 504?

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 1988 Peugeot 504?

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 1988 Peugeot 504?

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 1988 Peugeot 504 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 278 vehicles, the 1988 Peugeot 504 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 67.6%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1988 Peugeot 504?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1988 Peugeot 504 are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (49.6% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (27.6% of vehicles), Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (27.6% 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 1988 Peugeot 504?

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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Peugeot 504 (1988)

278 real MOT outcomes analysed • 67.6% first-time pass rate

1988 Peugeot 504

CarHunch analysed 278 real MOT records for the 1988 Peugeot 504. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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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 Colour Breakdown Compare Models

We have limited data for the 1988 Peugeot 504 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 20 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

67.6%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

6.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.63

Over 2.3 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

66k

Middle half: 57k–94k

For context

These stats describe 278 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 278 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 49.6%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated · Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. · …

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

Suspension & steering 27.6%

Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · …

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

Seat belts 22.8%

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded

Lighting 18.1%

Offside Rear fog lamp not working

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

Other issues 15.7%

Oil leak

Tyre wear 13.4%

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.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1988.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 278 Peugeot 504 cars.

Before you buy a 1988 Peugeot 504

Based on MOT data from 278 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 6.1% 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 (68%)	189	71.2%	0.13
Diesel (32%)	89	59.9%	1.7

Colour Breakdown

Based on 11,043 Peugeot 504 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 27.2%

3,002

White 26.8%

2,961

Red 19.1%

2,109

Beige 7.6%

840

Green 7.4%

819

Cream 3.6%

397

Grey 2.4%

270

Orange 2%

221

Brown 1.1%

116

Black 1%

114

Maroon 0.9%

101

Silver 0.8%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1988 Peugeot 504 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.

66,060

typical

57,329

low mileage

94,401

high mileage

Half of all 1988 Peugeot 504 vehicles fall between 57,329 and 94,401 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 57,329 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.

✓ 57,329–94,401 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1988 Peugeot 504s sit.

⚠ Over 127,441 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

2.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.63

Avg failures per vehicle

1.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Peugeot 504: All 504 years → Which year to buy? →

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993

Or browse all models: Peugeot →

Compare with another model

See how the 1988 Peugeot 504 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on