Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1990 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 1990 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 1990 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 1990 Peugeot 504 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 132 vehicles, the 1990 Peugeot 504 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 37.1%, indicating below-average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1990 Peugeot 504?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1990 Peugeot 504 are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (46.4% of vehicles), Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (43% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (37.6% 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 1990 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 (1990)

132 real MOT outcomes analysed • 37.1% first-time pass rate

1990 Peugeot 504

CarHunch analysed 132 real MOT records for the 1990 Peugeot 504. 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 1990 Peugeot 504 is a challenging prospect on the used market, with a first-time pass rate of just 37% compared to the UK average of 80%—meaning roughly two in three of these cars fail their MOT. While dangerous defects affect 14.4% of them, the real issue is the sheer volume of work needed: these vehicles average 1.14 failures and 4.3 advisories per test, indicating widespread wear across multiple systems rather than isolated problems.

At an average mileage of 110,055 miles, these cars are well-used survivors from three decades ago, so some deterioration is inevitable. However, the pattern of frequent advisories suggests that unless a 504 has had exceptional maintenance throughout its life, you should budget for significant repairs and factor in regular re-testing costs before buying one. Have a pre-purchase inspection done by a specialist familiar with 1980s Peugeots, not a general mechanic.

We have limited data for the 1990 Peugeot 504 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these cars 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

37.1%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

14.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.14

Over 3.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

103k

Middle half: 84k–122k

For context

These stats describe 132 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.

What tends to go wrong

Based on 132 cars. % = share of cohort with at least one match (advisories + failures combined).

~1 in 3 Brake wear

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (46.4%) · Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (15.2%) · Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (12.2%) · …

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

~1 in 3 Suspension & steering

Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (43%) · Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (37.6%) · Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (16.9%) · …

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

~1 in 6 Lighting

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (21.1%)

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

~1 in 6 Wipers & washers

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (17.7%)

~1 in 10 Seat belts

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (14.8%) · Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (14.3%)

~1 in 10 Tyre wear

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (14.3%)

💡 Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. A used-car inspection will confirm how much is left.

~1 in 10 Other issues

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (14.3%) · Oil leak (11.8%)

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1990. Counts include advisories and failures.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 132 Peugeot 504 cars.

Before you buy a 1990 Peugeot 504

Based on MOT data from 132 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 14.4% 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 (59%)	78	56.9%	1.62
Petrol (41%)	54	8.6%	0.46

Mileage Distribution

Most 1990 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.

103,241

typical

83,815

low mileage

122,083

high mileage

Half of all 1990 Peugeot 504 vehicles fall between 83,815 and 122,083 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 83,815 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.

✓ 83,815–122,083 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1990 Peugeot 504s sit.

⚠ Over 164,812 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

3.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.14

Avg failures per vehicle

4.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1991 1992 1993

Or browse all models: Peugeot →

Compare with another model

See how the 1990 Peugeot 504 stacks up against a rival.

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