Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1990 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 1990 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 1990 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 1990 Renault 5 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 869 vehicles, the 1990 Renault 5 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 65.4%, 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 Renault 5?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1990 Renault 5 are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (20.4% of vehicles), Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (20% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (13.6% 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 1990 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 (1990)

869 real MOT outcomes analysed • 65.4% first-time pass rate

1990 Renault 5

CarHunch analysed 869 real MOT records for the 1990 Renault 5. 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 Renault 5 is substantially less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time MOT pass rate of just 65.4% against the national benchmark of 80%—meaning roughly one in three tested cars failed. Fortunately, dangerous defects are relatively uncommon at 11.6%, so while you'll likely need repairs, catastrophic safety issues are not the primary concern.

These cars are genuinely old (median mileage 76,914 at test), yet still showing up on the road, which speaks to their basic durability if you accept the maintenance burden. Expect an average of 1.37 failures and 2.4 advisories per MOT, suggesting regular outlay on items like brakes, lights, and corrosion repairs—before buying one, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension, steering, and rust, as these will drive your ownership costs.

The 1990 Renault 5 has a below-average first-time pass rate (65.4% 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

65.4%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

11.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.37

Over 3.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

77k

Middle half: 57k–98k

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 2.4 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 869 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 869 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 20.4%

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.

Exhaust & emissions 20%

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

Tyre wear 13.6%

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.

Other issues 12.9%

Oil leak

Suspension & steering 10%

Nearside Steering rack gaiter split · Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Offside Steering rack gaiter split

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

Wipers & washers 8.7%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Seat belts 7.3%

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded

Lighting 6.3%

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working

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

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 869 Renault 5 cars.

Before you buy a 1990 Renault 5

Based on MOT data from 869 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 11.6% 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 (99%)	859	65.4%	1.38

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%

Orange 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1990 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.

76,914

typical

57,202

low mileage

98,484

high mileage

Half of all 1990 Renault 5 vehicles fall between 57,202 and 98,484 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 57,202 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.

✓ 57,202–98,484 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1990 Renault 5s sit.

⚠ Over 132,953 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1990 Renault 5 — Still on the Road

Most 1990 Renault 5s are still being driven.

17 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 71% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2018–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

3.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.37

Avg failures per vehicle

2.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

Or browse all models: Renault →

Compare with another model

See how the 1990 Renault 5 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on