Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1984 Ford Granada?

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 1984 Ford Granada?

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 1984 Ford Granada?

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 1984 Ford Granada reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,367 vehicles, the 1984 Ford Granada has a first-time MOT pass rate of 71.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1984 Ford Granada?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1984 Ford Granada are: Oil leak (31% of vehicles), Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (19.7% of vehicles), Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (18.5% 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 1984 Ford Granada?

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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Ford Granada (1984)

1,367 real MOT outcomes analysed • 71.9% first-time pass rate

1984 Ford Granada

CarHunch analysed 1,367 real MOT records for the 1984 Ford Granada. 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 Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 1984 Ford Granada has a below-average first-time pass rate (71.9% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Around 1 in 20 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

71.9%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.07

Over 4.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

46k

Middle half: 26k–73k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 4.6 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 1,367 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 1,367 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 31%

Oil leak · Oil leak, but not excessive

Suspension & steering 19.7%

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · …

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

Exhaust & emissions 15.3%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive · Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases

Tyre wear 13.5%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 12.5%

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Parking brake: efficiency below requirements

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1984.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,367 Ford Granada cars.

Before you buy a 1984 Ford Granada

Based on MOT data from 1,367 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 7% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (97%)	1,330	71.7%	1.08

Colour Breakdown

Based on 36,628 Ford Granada vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 23.6%

8,655

Red 12.7%

4,640

Grey 11.9%

4,343

White 11.7%

4,285

Green 10.3%

3,784

Silver 10.2%

3,741

Black 8.4%

3,079

Gold 6.1%

2,227

Beige 1.6%

593

Brown 1.6%

584

Bronze 1.5%

532

Yellow 0.5%

165

Mileage Distribution

Most 1984 Ford Granada 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.

46,151

typical

26,304

low mileage

72,636

high mileage

Half of all 1984 Ford Granada vehicles fall between 26,304 and 72,636 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 26,304 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.

✓ 26,304–72,636 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1984 Ford Granadas sit.

⚠ Over 98,058 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1984 Ford Granada — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 29% of 1984 Ford Granadas are still active.

Numbers are declining — 52 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (29% 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

4.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.07

Avg failures per vehicle

4.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1980 1981 1982 1983 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995

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Compare with another model

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Buyer beware — pass it on