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Bedford Rascal (1989)

637 real MOT outcomes analysed • 67.1% first-time pass rate

1989 Bedford Rascal

CarHunch analysed 637 real MOT records for the 1989 Bedford Rascal. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 12.9% below UK average
67.1%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
61,142
typical mileage
37,645–77,215 middle half
19.3%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
2.69
avg MOT failures per car
over 8.3 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1989 Bedford Rascal

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Bedford Rascal

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (99%) 632 67.1% 2.7
Other (1%) 5 77.2% 1.4

Mileage Distribution

Most 1989 Bedford Rascal vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

37,645
low mileage
61,142
typical
77,215
high mileage

Half of all 1989 Bedford Rascal vehicles fall between 37,645 and 77,215 miles.

1989 Bedford Rascal — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 62 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (37% of peak).

166 62 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

8.3
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
2.69
Avg failures per vehicle
9.1
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1989 Bedford Rascal

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 34.5%
    Offside Rear fog lamp not working
  • 27.4%
    Horn not working
  • 26.4%
    Oil leak
  • 20.5%
    Oil leak, but not excessive
  • 20.4%
    Service brake: efficiency below requirements
  • 18.4%
    Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 18.2%
    Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated
  • 18.2%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1989. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Bedford Rascal?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Bedford Rascal:

1986 1987 1988 1990