Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1996 Renault 19?

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 1996 Renault 19?

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 1996 Renault 19?

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.

How many 1996 Renault 19 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

21% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 1996 Renault 19 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 280 vehicles, the 1996 Renault 19 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 1996 Renault 19?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1996 Renault 19 are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (25.4% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (19.3% of vehicles), Offside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (19.1% 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 1996 Renault 19?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Renault 19 (1996)

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

1996 Renault 19

CarHunch analysed 280 real MOT records for the 1996 Renault 19. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

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

The 1996 Renault 19 is significantly less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time MOT pass rate of just 61.7% against the national benchmark of 80%—a clear red flag for buyers. More concerningly, over one in five of these cars (21.4%) have been flagged with a dangerous defect at some point, suggesting structural or safety issues that demand thorough inspection before purchase.

These vehicles are carrying around 91,600 miles on average, which is reasonable for their age, but the 1.76 failures per car indicate widespread mechanical wear rather than isolated problems. Before committing to one, get a full pre-purchase inspection focusing on brakes, steering, and suspension safety systems—the dangerous defect rate makes this non-negotiable.

We have limited data for the 1996 Renault 19 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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)

21.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.76

Over 4.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

84k

Middle half: 68k–101k

For context

These stats describe 280 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 280 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 25.4%

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

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

Tyre wear 19.3%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 19.1%

Oil leak

Suspension & steering 16.9%

Offside Rear Suspension component 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.

Exhaust & emissions 14.8%

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits · Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1996.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 280 Renault 19 cars.

Before you buy a 1996 Renault 19

Based on MOT data from 280 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 21.4% 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
Petrol (81%)	228	61.8%	1.76
Diesel (19%)	52	61.6%	1.75

Colour Breakdown

Based on 7,433 Renault 19 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 25.9%

1,924

Blue 24.9%

1,853

White 14.4%

1,067

Green 11.8%

880

Grey 11%

818

Silver 6.9%

511

Black 3.3%

246

Beige 1%

Purple 0.4%

Maroon 0.2%

Gold 0.1%

Yellow 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1996 Renault 19 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.

84,417

typical

68,296

low mileage

100,546

high mileage

Half of all 1996 Renault 19 vehicles fall between 68,296 and 100,546 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 68,296 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.

✓ 68,296–100,546 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1996 Renault 19s sit.

⚠ Over 135,737 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

4.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.76

Avg failures per vehicle

3.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Renault 19: All 19 years → Which year to buy? →

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995

Or browse all models: Renault →

Compare with another model

See how the 1996 Renault 19 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on