Bentley Turbo (1988)
1988 Bentley Turbo
CarHunch analysed 132 real MOT records for the 1988 Bentley Turbo. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
The 1988 Bentley Turbo falls slightly below the UK average with a 75.8% first-time pass rate against the national 80%, which is a minor concern—but the real red flag is that 40.2% of these cars have been flagged for dangerous defects at some point, well above what you'd expect for a vehicle of this age and rarity. This suggests systemic issues that go beyond normal wear, likely rooted in the complexity and age of the turbo system and fuel injection technology.
With a median mileage of 95,219 miles for a car now 36 years old, these examples have been driven relatively conservatively, yet they're still averaging nearly 3 failures and over 12 advisories per test—a high advisory count that points to cumulative decay across multiple systems rather than one specific problem. If you're serious about buying one, budget for a thorough pre-purchase inspection focusing on the turbo unit, fuel system integrity, and brake condition, as these appear to be chronic weak points in the cohort.
We have limited data for the 1988 Bentley Turbo — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.
These stats describe 132 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.
What tends to go wrong
Based on 132 cars. % = share of cohort with at least one match (advisories + failures combined).
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1988. Counts include advisories and failures.
See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches
Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 132 Bentley Turbo cars.
Before you buy a 1988 Bentley Turbo
Based on MOT data from 132 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
40.2% 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. -
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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
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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
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (98%) | 129 | 76% | 2.94 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1988 Bentley Turbo 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.
Half of all 1988 Bentley Turbo vehicles fall between 70,106 and 112,741 miles.
1988 Bentley Turbo — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 46% of 1988 Bentley Turbos are still active.
Numbers are declining — 32 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (46% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* 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
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Compare with another model
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