Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1989 Honda Ballade?

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 1989 Honda Ballade?

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 1989 Honda Ballade?

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 1989 Honda Ballade reliable?

Based on MOT data from 297 vehicles, the 1989 Honda Ballade has a first-time MOT pass rate of 59.5%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1989 Honda Ballade?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1989 Honda Ballade are: Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (33.3% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (27.7% of vehicles), Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (19.7% 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 1989 Honda Ballade?

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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Honda Ballade (1989)

297 real MOT outcomes analysed • 59.5% first-time pass rate

1989 Honda Ballade

CarHunch analysed 297 real MOT records for the 1989 Honda Ballade. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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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 Colour Breakdown Compare Models

We have limited data for the 1989 Honda Ballade — 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

59.5%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

8.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.62

Over 4.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

69k

Middle half: 52k–87k

For context

These stats describe 297 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 297 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Suspension & steering 33.3%

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Offside Front 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.

Seat belts 19.7%

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded · Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded · …

Tyre wear 15%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm · Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm

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

Other issues 13.7%

Oil leak · Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split · Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split

Lighting 11.3%

Offside Stop lamp not working · Nearside Stop lamp not working

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

Exhaust & emissions 10.3%

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1989.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 297 Honda Ballade cars.

Before you buy a 1989 Honda Ballade

Based on MOT data from 297 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 8.4% 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 693 Honda Ballade vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 36.8%

255

Silver 32.5%

225

Red 20.9%

145

Beige 5.5%

White 2.3%

Gold 2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1989 Honda Ballade 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.

68,787

typical

51,578

low mileage

86,558

high mileage

Half of all 1989 Honda Ballade vehicles fall between 51,578 and 86,558 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 51,578 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.

✓ 51,578–86,558 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1989 Honda Ballades sit.

⚠ Over 116,853 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1989 Honda Ballade — Still on the Road

Most 1989 Honda Ballades are still being driven.

10 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2017 — 77% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2017.

MOT History Averages

4.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.62

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Honda Ballade: All Ballade years → Which year to buy? →

1987 1988

Or browse all models: Honda →

Compare with another model

See how the 1989 Honda Ballade stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on