Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1990 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 1990 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 1990 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 1990 Peugeot 505 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 256 vehicles, the 1990 Peugeot 505 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 64.2%, indicating 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 505?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1990 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 1990 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 (1990)

256 real MOT outcomes analysed • 64.2% first-time pass rate

1990 Peugeot 505

CarHunch analysed 256 real MOT records for the 1990 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 1990 Peugeot 505 passes its MOT first time in just 64.2% of cases, well below the UK average of 80%, signalling a car that demands serious mechanical attention before purchase. With a dangerous defect rate of 12.5%, these vehicles aren't to be taken lightly—a used 505 needs a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic.

At 154,550 miles on average, these cars have covered significant ground, yet they're still racking up nearly two failures per test and 5.4 advisories each, suggesting age-related wear is catching up fast. Before committing money, have a specialist check the brakes, suspension, and cooling system thoroughly—these older Peugeots have a knack for expensive surprises once corrosion sets in.

We have limited data for the 1990 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

64.2%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

12.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.95

Over 5.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

136k

Middle half: 116k–160k

For context

These stats describe 256 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 256 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 1990.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 256 Peugeot 505 cars.

Before you buy a 1990 Peugeot 505

Based on MOT data from 256 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 (64%)	163	62.6%	1.92
Diesel (36%)	93	67%	1.99

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 1990 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.

135,669

typical

116,305

low mileage

160,356

high mileage

Half of all 1990 Peugeot 505 vehicles fall between 116,305 and 160,356 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 116,305 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.

✓ 116,305–160,356 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1990 Peugeot 505s sit.

⚠ Over 216,480 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1990 Peugeot 505 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 67% of 1990 Peugeot 505s are still active.

10 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2019 — 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 2014–2019.

MOT History Averages

5.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.95

Avg failures per vehicle

5.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1986 1987 1988 1989 1991

Or browse all models: Peugeot →

Compare with another model

See how the 1990 Peugeot 505 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on