Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1988 Ford Granada Ghia X I?

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 1988 Ford Granada Ghia X I?

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 1988 Ford Granada Ghia X I?

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.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1988 Ford Granada Ghia X I?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Ford Granada Ghia X I (1988)

1,509 real MOT outcomes analysed

1988 Ford Granada Ghia X I

CarHunch has 1,509 1988 Ford Granada Ghia X I vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

On this page

Reliability Overview Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Colour Breakdown Compare Models

No MOT data available for this vehicle type

The 1988 Ford Granada Ghia X I doesn't appear in DVLA light-vehicle MOT records — it may be exempt, registered as a different vehicle class, or an import not subject to UK MOT testing. We don't have reliability stats for this specific model, but you can browse other Ford vehicles below.

Browse all Ford models →

No MOT data — worth knowing

Got a specific Ford Granada Ghia X I you're checking out?

The real detail is in the individual vehicle report — MOT history, AI Hunches, mileage timeline, and defect patterns for that specific reg.

The 1988 Ford Granada Ghia X I has no recorded MOT test data in the DVLA light-vehicle database, so we cannot compare its reliability to the UK average or assess failure rates. This cohort of 1,509 vehicles may include examples that have been delicensed, exported, or scrapped, leaving little recent testing information to work with.

What we do know is that the Granada was a solidly built saloon from Ford's 1970s–80s heyday, prized for comfort and durability by taxi operators and fleet buyers. If you're considering one today, treat it as a classic or specialist purchase: have a pre-buy inspection by a Granada-familiar mechanic, check MOT history yourself on the DVLA portal if available, and budget for age-related wear on suspension, trim, and seals rather than relying on aggregate reliability data.

MOT statistics not available

We have 1,509 1988 Ford Granada Ghia X I vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

There are a few reasons this can happen:

Heavy commercial vehicle — trucks, buses and coaches over 3.5 tonnes are tested under the DVSA annual HGV/PSV regime, which uses a separate database not included in our data source
Imported vehicles — vehicles registered abroad and recently brought to the UK may have no UK MOT history yet
MOT-exempt — vehicles manufactured before 1986 qualify under the 40-year rolling exemption; some specialist and agricultural vehicles are also exempt
Never used on public roads — some vehicles are registered but kept off-road and have never required an MOT

Check on the official DVSA service →

Before you buy a 1988 Ford Granada Ghia X I

Based on MOT data from 1,509 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 0% 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

Colour Breakdown

Based on 4,188 Ford Granada Ghia X I vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Grey 19.5%

816

Blue 16.6%

696

Gold 12.9%

541

Red 10.5%

438

Silver 10.3%

433

White 9%

378

Black 8.7%

366

Green 5.8%

242

Bronze 4.7%

195

Brown 1%

Beige 0.8%

Maroon 0.2%

Other model years — Ford Granada Ghia X I: All Granada Ghia X I years → Which year to buy? →

1987 1989 1990 1991

Or browse all models: Ford →

Compare with another model

See how the 1988 Ford Granada Ghia X I stacks up against a rival.