Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1991 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 1991 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 1991 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 1991 Renault 5 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 252 vehicles, the 1991 Renault 5 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 63%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1991 Renault 5?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1991 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 1991 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 (1991)

252 real MOT outcomes analysed • 63% first-time pass rate

1991 Renault 5

CarHunch analysed 252 real MOT records for the 1991 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 1991 Renault 5 is a genuine reliability concern: only 63% pass their MOT first time, well below the UK average of 80%, and 13.1% have recorded a dangerous defect at some point. This is a car that will need careful pre-purchase inspection and ongoing maintenance commitment.

At around 90,000 miles on average, these examples are showing their age, and the figures bear that out—expect nearly 1.5 failures and almost 3 advisories per test as standard. Before buying, have a trusted mechanic inspect the suspension, brakes, and electrical systems specifically, since that's where older Renaults typically accumulate problems.

We have limited data for the 1991 Renault 5 — 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

63%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

13.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.54

Over 4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

86k

Middle half: 69k–106k

For context

These stats describe 252 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 252 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 1991.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 252 Renault 5 cars.

Before you buy a 1991 Renault 5

Based on MOT data from 252 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 13.1% 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 (98%)	247	62.8%	1.56

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 1991 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.

85,702

typical

68,811

low mileage

106,059

high mileage

Half of all 1991 Renault 5 vehicles fall between 68,811 and 106,059 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 68,811 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.

✓ 68,811–106,059 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1991 Renault 5s sit.

⚠ Over 143,179 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1991 Renault 5 — Still on the Road

Almost all 1991 Renault 5s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 11 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2024, 100% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2018–2024.
* 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

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.54

Avg failures per vehicle

2.9

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 1990 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

Or browse all models: Renault →

Compare with another model

See how the 1991 Renault 5 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on