Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1989 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 1989 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 1989 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 1989 Peugeot 505 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 297 vehicles, the 1989 Peugeot 505 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 64.3%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1989 Peugeot 505?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1989 Peugeot 505 are: Oil leak (21.5% of vehicles), Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (17.5% of vehicles), Nearside Steering rack gaiter split (17% 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 1989 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 (1989)

297 real MOT outcomes analysed • 64.3% first-time pass rate

1989 Peugeot 505

CarHunch analysed 297 real MOT records for the 1989 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 Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 1989 Peugeot 505 has a first-time MOT pass rate of just 64.3%, well below the UK average of 80%, making it a less reliable proposition than most vehicles of any age. While dangerous defects turn up in only 12.5% of examples, the consistent struggle across both petrol (65.3% pass) and diesel (62.5% pass) variants suggests systemic aging issues rather than fuel-type specific problems.

At 135,000 miles median mileage, these 505s are fairly high-mileage for their age, yet they're still averaging 1.67 failures per test and 5.1 advisories—pointing to worn brake components, suspension wear, and corrosion that accumulate steadily. If you're considering one, budget for immediate remedial work on the items that fail most often, and have any candidate thoroughly inspected by a specialist in French classics before committing.

We have limited data for the 1989 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

64.3%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

12.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.67

Over 4.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

135k

Middle half: 104k–166k

For context

These stats describe 297 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 297 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 21.5%

Oil leak

Exhaust & emissions 17.5%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive

Suspension & steering 17%

Nearside Steering rack gaiter split

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

Brake wear 15.8%

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated · Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated · Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

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

Lighting 15.1%

Offside Headlamp aim too low · Nearside Headlamp aim too low

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

Tyre wear 14.2%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front 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 1989.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 297 Peugeot 505 cars.

Before you buy a 1989 Peugeot 505

Based on MOT data from 297 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 12.5% 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 (66%)	197	65.3%	1.6
Diesel (34%)	100	62.5%	1.79

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,446 Peugeot 505 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 29.7%

430

Grey 17.6%

255

Red 13.6%

196

Silver 10.6%

153

Beige 9.3%

135

White 9.3%

135

Maroon 4.1%

Black 2.1%

Green 1.8%

Gold 1.2%

Brown 0.3%

Cream 0.3%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1989 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.

135,319

typical

103,549

low mileage

166,262

high mileage

Half of all 1989 Peugeot 505 vehicles fall between 103,549 and 166,262 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 103,549 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.

✓ 103,549–166,262 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1989 Peugeot 505s sit.

⚠ Over 224,453 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1989 Peugeot 505 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 67% of 1989 Peugeot 505s are still active.

16 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2017 — 67% 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

4.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.67

Avg failures per vehicle

5.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1986 1987 1988 1990 1991

Or browse all models: Peugeot →

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Buyer beware — pass it on