Used Peugeot 504 Buying Guide: Rust, Diesel and Recall Checks

A used Peugeot 504 is a good buy when the body is solid and the brake booster area is free of corrosion, because the mechanicals are tough but the U.S. parts supply is thin. Peugeot built the 504 from 1968 into the 1980s in sedan and wagon forms, as the Wikipedia 504 page covers. On Nov. 5, 2026, the NHTSA recall API returned one campaign for a 1978 504 query: 78V178000, which found water could collect between the brake power booster and the pedal support bracket and cause corrosion that hinders the booster piston.

Check the brake booster area

Recall 78V178000 covers corrosion where the brake booster mounts to the pedal support bracket. Ask whether the recall work was done, look at the mounting area for rust, and test the brakes for a firm pedal and assist. A stiff pedal can point to a booster problem.

Gas or diesel

Many U.S. 504s are diesels, and some are gas cars. Diesels are slow but durable; check for hard starting, heavy smoke and blow-by. Gas cars should idle smoothly. Our Peugeot recall check guide covers how to run the VIN.

Rust and body

Check the sills, floors, wheel arches, the trunk floor and around the windshield for rust. Wagons can rust around the rear hatch. Look for fresh paint or undercoating over patches.

Parts and service

Peugeot left the U.S. market in the early 1990s, so parts often come from specialists or overseas. Ask the seller which parts they source and from where. Check the suspension for worn bushes and the steering for play.

Who buys these cars

Many 504 buyers want a simple, durable classic sedan or wagon, and a clean diesel wagon has a following of its own. Because U.S. sales ended decades ago, a well-kept example with records is rare. Ask for the service history and check that the odometer reading fits the wear on the pedals, seats and steering wheel. A car that sat for years needs fresh fluids, hoses and tires before a long drive. On a wagon, lift the cargo mat and check that the floor is dry and solid, since water from a leaking rear seal rusts it from the inside. Our odometer discrepancy guide covers mileage entries that do not line up.

When to walk away

• Corrosion at the brake booster mount.
• A diesel that smokes heavily or will not start.
• Heavy structural rust.
• A title number that does not match the car.

Questions to ask the seller

• Was the 78V178000 recall work done?
• Gas or diesel, and is it the original engine?
• Where do you buy parts?
• Has the title ever been branded?

Reading the history on a decades-old car

Do not expect a long service log. Records from the 1970s and 1980s were often never reported, so the report matters most for title brands, odometer readings at title transfers and registration gaps by state. A car that moved from a coastal or rust-belt state to a dry one may have been retitled; look at the dates and ask why. An approved NMVTIS check adds salvage and junk records from insurers and recyclers. If the odometer readings go backward or the car shows as exempt, ask for the paper trail before you price it. Our odometer discrepancy guide explains what those entries mean.

Private-sale paperwork

Most cars like this sell privately. Make sure the name on the title matches the seller ID, the VIN on the title matches the plate and the stamping on the car, and any old lien is released in writing. Our lien release guide walks through that step. Pay by a traceable method, get a dated bill of sale, and do not accept an open title signed by someone who is not present.

How to price it

Clean sedans and wagons sell for modest money, but rust and missing parts change that. Compare recent sales on Hagerty. Our Peugeot 405 Mi16 guide covers a later Peugeot.

What the report costs

As of early November 2026 a CARFAX bought direct usually costs around $44.99, and AutoCheck sits a little lower. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Our guest price has been about $5.50 a report, about $4.50 for members, and about $6.75 for a CARFAX and AutoCheck bundle. Confirm the price at checkout, since it can change.

On a car this old, read the report for title brands and odometer readings first; service entries are often thin.

Sources

• NHTSA recall lookup (API checked Nov. 5, 2026; one campaign, 78V178000, for a 1978 504 query)
• Peugeot 504, Wikipedia
• NMVTIS
• Hagerty (valuation tools)