Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 Peugeot 505?

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 1987 Peugeot 505?

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 1987 Peugeot 505?

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 1987 Peugeot 505 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 167 vehicles, the 1987 Peugeot 505 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 61.7%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1987 Peugeot 505?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1987 Peugeot 505 are: Oil leak (18.8% of vehicles), Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (16.1% of vehicles), Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (15.7% 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 1987 Peugeot 505?

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 505 (1987)

167 real MOT outcomes analysed • 61.7% first-time pass rate

1987 Peugeot 505

CarHunch analysed 167 real MOT records for the 1987 Peugeot 505. 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

This 1987 Peugeot 505 is significantly less reliable than the UK average: only 61.7% pass first time against the national benchmark of 80%, and 12.6% have suffered dangerous defects at some point — a notable concern for a buyer. Petrol variants fare slightly worse at 60.7%, though the sample size is small enough that this difference may not be meaningful.

The median mileage of 132,338 miles is relatively high for a 37-year-old car, yet surviving examples are still averaging 1.47 failures and 4.0 advisories per test, suggesting age and wear rather than fundamental design flaws. If you're considering one, budget for remedial work before purchase and expect regular MOT visits; these cars require hands-on owners rather than set-and-forget reliability.

We have limited data for the 1987 Peugeot 505 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

61.7%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

12.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.47

Over 3.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

132k

Middle half: 103k–159k

For context

These stats describe 167 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 167 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 18.8%

Oil leak · Fuel pipe/s corroded

Brake wear 16.1%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated · Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated · …

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

Exhaust & emissions 15.7%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive · Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases

Suspension & steering 14.3%

Nearside Steering rack gaiter split · Offside Steering rack gaiter split · Offside 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.

Tyre wear 10.5%

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm · Nearside 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.

Seat belts 9.4%

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 167 Peugeot 505 cars.

Before you buy a 1987 Peugeot 505

Based on MOT data from 167 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 12.6% 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 (67%)	112	60.7%	1.5
Diesel (33%)	55	63.6%	1.42

Mileage Distribution

Most 1987 Peugeot 505 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.

132,338

typical

103,169

low mileage

158,987

high mileage

Half of all 1987 Peugeot 505 vehicles fall between 103,169 and 158,987 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 103,169 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.

✓ 103,169–158,987 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1987 Peugeot 505s sit.

⚠ Over 214,632 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

3.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.47

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Peugeot 505: All 505 years → Which year to buy? →

1986 1988 1989 1990 1991

Or browse all models: Peugeot →

Compare with another model

See how the 1987 Peugeot 505 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on