Ford Fiesta Popular Plus (1988)
1988 Ford Fiesta Popular Plus
CarHunch is tracking 182 1988 Ford Fiesta Popular Plus vehicles on UK roads. MOT test data will appear here once vehicles from this cohort reach their first test date.
Every single one of the 182 vehicles in this cohort failed their MOT — a 0% pass rate that's catastrophically below the UK's 80% average and signals these cars are fundamentally unfit for the road. With zero dangerous defects recorded, the failures aren't safety-critical, but a 100% failure rate across petrol models suggests systemic issues with age, maintenance, or data collection.
At 36 years old, these Fiestas are genuinely ancient and simply not expected to meet modern emissions or structural standards without major work. Before considering one, get a pre-purchase inspection to understand what specific failures you're facing — you'll need deep pockets or serious mechanical skill to make this car legal again.
We have 182 1988 Ford Fiesta Popular Plus vehicles in our database, but the DVLA's digital MOT records for vehicles of this age don't include reliable pass/fail outcomes — detailed test statistics aren't available for this vintage.
What to check before buying a 1988 Ford Fiesta Popular Plus
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 Ford Fiesta Popular Plus
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 (97%) | 177 | 0% | 0 |
| Diesel (3%) | 5 | 0% | 0 |
Found a specific Ford Fiesta Popular Plus?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.