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B278 VJA

1985 Renault R5

Blue Petrol 1397cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires21 Jan 2027
Tests22 (16 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate72.7%

Mileage

59,291 mi
Last recorded59,291 miles
Recorded on21 Jan 2026
Typical for 1985 Renault R565,463 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Renault
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationB278 VJA
MakeRenault
ModelR5
Year1985
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,397cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

16 pass 6 fail
Pass 21 Jan 2026 59,291 miles

Central Rear Brake pipe inadequately clipped or supported (1.1.11 (d) (i))

Nearside Front Lower Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Upper Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Upper Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

underside of vehicle undersealed

Pass 22 Jan 2025 58,328 miles

Nearside Front Position lamp slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (4.2.3 (c))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Upper Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Position lamp slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (4.2.3 (c))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

vehicle heavily undersealed

Fail 20 Jan 2025 58,328 miles

Nearside Rear Fuel tank exhaust shield missing where fitted as original equipment creating a risk of fire (6.1.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Fuel pipe chafing centre exhaust area (6.1.3 (c) (i))

Nearside Front Position lamp slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (4.2.3 (c))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Upper Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Position lamp slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (4.2.3 (c))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Rear Fuel pipe chafing fuel filter (6.1.3 (c) (i))

vehicle heavily undersealed

Pass 31 Jan 2023 57,434 miles

Central Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material X4 (1.1.11 (c))

Exhaust noisy sport exhaust fitted (8.1.1 (a))

Pass 28 Jan 2022 56,832 miles
Fail 15 Jan 2022 56,822 miles

Nearside Front Upper Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Windscreen damaged and affecting the driver's view of an obligatory external mirror drivers view (3.2 (a) (ii))

Pass 15 Jan 2021 55,560 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 20 Jan 2020 51,600 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material all (1.1.11 (c))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

corrosion underside of vehicle

Pass 12 Jul 2017 49,767 miles

Both front tires perished

Engine oil leak noted

Front Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Nearside Front Headlamp damaged but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit both (4.1.E.1)

Suspension components corroded

Fail 7 Jul 2017 49,674 miles

Rear Brake pipe leaking (3.6.A.1)

Both front tires perished

Engine oil leak noted

Front Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Nearside Front Headlamp damaged but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit both (4.1.E.1)

Suspension components corroded

Pass 5 Jul 2016 46,325 miles

Offside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

brake discs wearing,oil leaks,wiper rubbers wearing

cracks in windscreen,rear tyres wearing on edges+perishing+getting low on tread

suspension components corroding

Pass 23 Jul 2015 43,890 miles

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive outer sill (2.4.A.3)

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

brake pipes & rear brake hose ferrules corroding.

Fail 10 Jul 2015 43,854 miles

Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.5.C.1a)

Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.5.C.1a)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

brake pipes & rear brake hose ferrules corroding

Pass 10 Jul 2014 43,445 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 7 Jul 2014 43,430 miles

Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Nearside Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.5.C.1a)

Offside Front Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Outer Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Nearside Outer Rear Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

front brake discs corrosion

front to rear exhaust system and clamps corrosion

indicator stalk faulty

n/s/r tyre cracks

o/s/r tyre cracks

Pass 1 Jul 2011 38,272 miles

tyre sidewalls starting to crack.rear shockers weak.slight damage to windscreen.

Pass 29 Jun 2010 36,532 miles
Fail 29 Jun 2010 36,532 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Spare wheel insecure (6.4.2)

Pass 29 Jun 2009 31,843 miles
Pass 12 May 2008 31,686 miles
Pass 15 May 2007 31,403 miles
Pass 23 May 2006 31,151 miles

How Reliable is the Renault R5?

Based on 103,140 MOT tests across 20,538 vehicles.

64.4%
Pass Rate
1,812
Miles/Year
41
Year Lifespan
20,538
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 6,288
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 6,121
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 5,980
Steering rack gaiter split 5,127
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 3,752
Full Renault R5 reliability report

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B278 VJA is a 1985 Renault R5 in Blue with a 1,397cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72.7%.

Across all 1985 Renault R5 models, the average MOT pass rate is 64.0% with a typical mileage of 65,463 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Renault R5 fails its MOT is seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 6,288 recorded failures. If you're considering buying B278 VJA, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Renault R5 typically stays on UK roads for around 41 years. At 41 years old, this Renault R5 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of B278 VJA?

You can check the full history of B278 VJA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was B278 VJA registered?

B278 VJA is a 1985 Renault R5, first registered on 1 May 1985.

Is B278 VJA safe to buy?

The MOT history for B278 VJA shows 22 tests with a 72.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does B278 VJA have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on B278 VJA. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.