Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 Fiat 126?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1987 Fiat 126?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1987 Fiat 126?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 1987 Fiat 126 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 147 vehicles, the 1987 Fiat 126 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 68.2%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1987 Fiat 126?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1987 Fiat 126 are: Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (22.1% of vehicles), Brakes imbalanced across an axle (20.8% of vehicles), Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (19% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1987 Fiat 126?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Fiat 126 (1987)

147 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68.2% first-time pass rate

1987 Fiat 126

CarHunch analysed 147 real MOT records for the 1987 Fiat 126. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 1987 Fiat 126 passes MOT first time in 68.2% of cases, well below the UK average of 80%, which signals reliability issues you should expect. The low dangerous defect rate of 8.2% is a bright spot—these cars aren't inherently unsafe when maintained—but the median CarHunch score of 50 reflects their age and condition struggles.

These 126s are running at sensible mileages (median 35,222 miles), suggesting many are low-use classics rather than tired daily drivers, yet they still average nearly one failure per test and almost three advisories. Before buying, budget for addressing common wear items and minor systems; this isn't a buy-and-forget proposition.

We have limited data for the 1987 Fiat 126 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

68.2%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

8.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.97

Over 3.4 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

35k

Middle half: 25k–46k

For context

These stats describe 147 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.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 147 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 22.1%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive

Brake wear 20.8%

Brakes imbalanced across an axle · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 19%

Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush · Offside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush · Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Other issues 15.9%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Oil leak

Lighting 13.3%

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working · Offside Front position lamp(s) not working · Offside Rear fog lamp not working · …

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Wipers & washers 12.4%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 147 Fiat 126 cars.

Before you buy a 1987 Fiat 126

Based on MOT data from 147 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 8.2% 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.
🔍 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 →
📄 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 Get 20% off via CarHunch

Mileage Distribution

Most 1987 Fiat 126 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.

35,222

typical

25,005

low mileage

45,843

high mileage

Half of all 1987 Fiat 126 vehicles fall between 25,005 and 45,843 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 25,005 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 25,005–45,843 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1987 Fiat 126s sit.

⚠ Over 61,888 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1987 Fiat 126 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 65% of 1987 Fiat 126s are still active.

11 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 65% of the peak remain.

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

3.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.97

Avg failures per vehicle

2.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Fiat 126: All 126 years → Which year to buy? →

1980 1981 1982 1983 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991

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Buyer beware — pass it on