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Leyland Daf 400 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Leyland Daf 400 car check

Is the Leyland Daf 400 reliable? We analysed 874 real MOT tests across 215 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 874 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
60.1%
Typical Mileage
94,822mi
Annual Mileage
2,044mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
37yrs

The Leyland Daf 400 is below average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include service brake: efficiency below requirements, brake pipe excessively corroded and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Leyland Daf 400.

Leyland Daf 400 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Leyland Daf 400. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Leyland Daf 400 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Leyland Daf 400 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

58.4%
1994
61.6%
1993
58.2%
1992
56.5%
1991
59.8%
1990
58.5%
1989

Leyland Daf 400 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Leyland Daf 400 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Service brake: efficiency below requirements 74
Brake pipe excessively corroded 68
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 67
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 57
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 51
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 50
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 50
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 48
Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush 41
Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion 37

Leyland Daf 400 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Leyland Daf 400 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
774 mi/yr
Typical
2,044 mi/yr
Average
3,814 mi/yr
Heavy usage
4,458 mi/yr

Leyland Daf 400 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Leyland Daf 400 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1994 101 58.4% 75,900 101,457 121,573
1993 216 61.6% 71,789 93,664 163,336
1992 153 58.2% 76,850 113,314 151,978
1991 154 56.5% 64,603 102,894 140,000
1990 87 59.8% 65,393 86,844 100,000
1989 53 58.5% 61,774 108,820 121,872

How Long Does a Leyland Daf 400 Last?

Based on 215 Leyland Daf 400 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
15.2 years
Median
15.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
37 years

Leyland Daf 400 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Leyland Daf 400 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
94,822 mi
75th Percentile
135,126 mi
95th Percentile
189,211 mi
Max Recorded
999,000 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Leyland Daf 400

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1993

61.6% MOT pass rate from 216 tests

Year to avoid
1991

56.5% MOT pass rate from 154 tests

The best year to buy a used Leyland Daf 400 is 1993, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 61.6% across 216 tests. The 1991 model year has the lowest pass rate at 56.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Leyland Daf 400 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Leyland Daf 400 THIS CAR 60.1% 874 94,822 mi 37 yrs
Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel 60.5% 13,935 97,292 mi 37 yrs
Leyland Daf 200 Series Diesel 62.6% 6,901 99,748 mi 37 yrs
Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel Turbo 61.6% 5,137 112,996 mi 36 yrs
Honda CB1100R 88.7% 772 26,084 mi 45 yrs

Compared to the Leyland Daf 400 Series Diesel (60.5% pass rate) and the Leyland Daf 200 Series Diesel (62.6% pass rate), the Leyland Daf 400 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Leyland Daf 400?

The Leyland Daf 400 has an overall MOT pass rate of 60.1% across 874 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.

The most common problems on the Leyland Daf 400 are service brake: efficiency below requirements (74 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (68), and parking brake: efficiency below requirements (67). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Leyland Daf 400 owner drives around 2,044 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Leyland Daf 400 models stay on UK roads for around 37 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Leyland Daf 400 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Leyland Daf 400 reliable?
Based on 874 MOT tests, the Leyland Daf 400 has a 60.1% pass rate — below average, so factor in potential repair costs.
What are the common problems on a Leyland Daf 400?
The most common MOT failures are service brake: efficiency below requirements, brake pipe excessively corroded, and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Leyland Daf 400 do per year?
The typical Leyland Daf 400 does around 2,044 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Leyland Daf 400 last?
Most Leyland Daf 400 models stay on UK roads for around 37 years based on our analysis of 215 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Leyland Daf 400?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Leyland Daf 400?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Leyland Daf 400 is 1993 with a 61.6% pass rate across 216 tests.