Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 Renault 5?

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 Renault 5?

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 Renault 5?

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 Renault 5 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 435 vehicles, the 1987 Renault 5 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 62.2%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1987 Renault 5?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1987 Renault 5 are: Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (19.7% of vehicles), Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (18.2% of vehicles), Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (15.6% 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 1987 Renault 5?

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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Renault 5 (1987)

435 real MOT outcomes analysed • 62.2% first-time pass rate

1987 Renault 5

CarHunch analysed 435 real MOT records for the 1987 Renault 5. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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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 Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 435 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 1987 Renault 5 has a below-average first-time pass rate (62.2% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 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

62.2%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

8.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.05

Over 3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

69k

Middle half: 52k–92k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 2.1 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 435 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 435 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 19.7%

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

Brake wear 18.2%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Brakes imbalanced across an axle · Parking brake lever has no reserve travel

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

Suspension & steering 15.6%

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.

Other issues 13.3%

Oil leak · Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split · Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split · …

Tyre wear 13%

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

Seat belts 8.3%

Offside 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 435 Renault 5 cars.

Before you buy a 1987 Renault 5

Based on MOT data from 435 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 8.5% 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 (97%)	424	62.4%	1.03

Colour Breakdown

Based on 13,093 Renault 5 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 42.7%

5,593

White 23.9%

3,128

Blue 16%

2,101

Silver 4.3%

565

Grey 3.6%

465

Beige 3.3%

438

Green 2.1%

279

Black 1.9%

255

Yellow 1.2%

160

Gold 0.4%

Bronze 0.2%

Brown 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1987 Renault 5 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.

69,170

typical

52,021

low mileage

92,200

high mileage

Half of all 1987 Renault 5 vehicles fall between 52,021 and 92,200 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 52,021 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.

✓ 52,021–92,200 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1987 Renault 5s sit.

⚠ Over 124,470 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

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.05

Avg failures per vehicle

2.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Renault 5: All 5 years → Which year to buy? →

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

Or browse all models: Renault →

Compare with another model

See how the 1987 Renault 5 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on