Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 Honda Legend?

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 1987 Honda Legend?

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 1987 Honda Legend?

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 1987 Honda Legend reliable?

Based on MOT data from 132 vehicles, the 1987 Honda Legend has a first-time MOT pass rate of 63.5%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1987 Honda Legend?

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 Legend (1987)

Q: What are common problems with the 1987 Honda Legend?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1987 Honda Legend are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (38.1% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (26.8% of vehicles), Oil leak (26.8% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

132 real MOT outcomes analysed • 63.5% first-time pass rate

1987 Honda Legend

CarHunch analysed 132 real MOT records for the 1987 Honda Legend. 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 Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Compare Models

The 1987 Honda Legend has a first-time MOT pass rate of 63.5%, well below the UK average of 80%, suggesting these cars need more work to get through their tests. The good news is that dangerous defects are rare at just 2.3%, so catastrophic failure is not a major concern—but the 16-point pass rate gap points to age-related wear across multiple systems.

With a median mileage of 78,651 miles for a car now approaching 40 years old, these Legends have been relatively well-preserved, yet still averaging 0.28 failures and 0.7 advisories per test. If you're considering one, budget for a pre-purchase inspection focusing on fluids, seals, and electrical systems, and factor in regular remedial work to keep it roadworthy.

We have limited data for the 1987 Honda Legend — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

First-time pass

63.5%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

2.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.28

Over 1.7 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

79k

Middle half: 60k–95k

For context

These stats describe 132 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 132 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 38.1%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin

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

Suspension & steering 26.8%

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

Other issues 26.8%

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

Lighting 20.6%

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated

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

Tyre wear 19.6%

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

Exhaust & emissions 19.6%

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases · Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 132 Honda Legend cars.

Before you buy a 1987 Honda Legend

Based on MOT data from 132 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 2.3% 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

Mileage Distribution

Most 1987 Honda Legend 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.

78,651

typical

59,536

low mileage

94,763

high mileage

Half of all 1987 Honda Legend vehicles fall between 59,536 and 94,763 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 59,536 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.

✓ 59,536–94,763 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1987 Honda Legends sit.

⚠ Over 127,930 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

1.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.28

Avg failures per vehicle

0.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2006 2007 2008

Or browse all models: Honda →

Compare with another model

See how the 1987 Honda Legend stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on