Honda Ballade (1987)
1987 Honda Ballade
CarHunch analysed 141 real MOT records for the 1987 Honda Ballade. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1987 Honda Ballade fails its MOT on first attempt 58% of the time—a significant 22 percentage points below the UK average of 80%—suggesting these nearly four-decade-old cars face consistent mechanical challenges. Only 8.5% have ever recorded a dangerous defect, which is relatively low, but the sheer frequency of failures means serious issues are common rather than exceptional.
These Ballades are running at a median of 66,204 miles, which is reasonable for their age, yet they're averaging nearly two failures per test and 3.7 advisories, pointing to cumulative wear on engines, brakes, and exhaust systems rather than catastrophic problems. If you're considering one, budget for pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with 1980s Hondas, as you're buying a car that will almost certainly need work to pass its next MOT.
What to check before buying a 1987 Honda Ballade
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 Honda Ballade
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
CarHunch may earn a small commission if you buy via these links — at no extra cost to you.
Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (99%) | 140 | 57.9% | 1.91 |
| LPG (1%) | 1 | 66.7% | 3 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1987 Honda Ballade vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1987 Honda Ballade vehicles fall between 54,220 and 88,677 miles.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1987 Honda Ballade
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
-
34.6%
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
-
34.2%
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
-
17.4%
Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded
-
16.8%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
16.1%
Oil leak
-
15.4%
Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded
-
14.1%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
12.8%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Honda Ballade?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.