Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1997 Renault Safrane?

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 1997 Renault Safrane?

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 1997 Renault Safrane?

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 1997 Renault Safrane reliable?

Based on MOT data from 938 vehicles, the 1997 Renault Safrane has a first-time MOT pass rate of 67.4%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1997 Renault Safrane?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1997 Renault Safrane are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (31.4% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (20.8% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (20.6% 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 1997 Renault Safrane?

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 Safrane (1997)

938 real MOT outcomes analysed • 67.4% first-time pass rate

1997 Renault Safrane

CarHunch analysed 938 real MOT records for the 1997 Renault Safrane. 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 1997 Renault Safrane struggles at MOT time, with a first-time pass rate of 67.4% — significantly below the UK average of 80% — suggesting these cars are ageing hard and requiring meaningful work to stay legal. While the dangerous defect rate of 14.8% isn't alarming, the 2.32 average failures per vehicle tells you these aren't minor niggles; they're real mechanical issues.

At around 115,000 miles, these Safarnes have covered typical mileage for their age, but the 7.2 average advisories show cumulative wear is catching up. If you're considering one, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on the failures pattern (suspension, steering, and emissions are typical weak spots on this generation), and budget for imminent remedial work rather than expecting a quick MOT pass.

The 1997 Renault Safrane has a below-average first-time pass rate (67.4% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ 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

67.4%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

14.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.32

Over 6.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

115k

Middle half: 92k–138k

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 7.2 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 938 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 938 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 31.4%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. · …

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

Tyre wear 20.8%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear 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 17%

Oil leak

Exhaust & emissions 16.4%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive · Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits

Suspension & steering 15.1%

Offside Steering rack gaiter split · Nearside Steering rack gaiter split

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1997.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 938 Renault Safrane cars.

Before you buy a 1997 Renault Safrane

Based on MOT data from 938 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 14.8% 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%)	920	67.3%	2.34

Colour Breakdown

Based on 4,977 Renault Safrane vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 24.4%

1,216

Green 19.7%

982

Silver 16.6%

824

Red 14.9%

742

Black 7.6%

380

Grey 6.8%

340

White 4.5%

223

Beige 4%

200

Gold 1.2%

Purple 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1997 Renault Safrane 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.

114,540

typical

91,957

low mileage

138,289

high mileage

Half of all 1997 Renault Safrane vehicles fall between 91,957 and 138,289 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 91,957 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.

✓ 91,957–138,289 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1997 Renault Safranes sit.

⚠ Over 186,690 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1997 Renault Safrane — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 13% of 1997 Renault Safranes are still active.

Numbers are declining — 11 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2021 (13% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2021.
* 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

6.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.32

Avg failures per vehicle

7.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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See how the 1997 Renault Safrane stacks up against a rival.

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