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 8.7%, indicating below-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 • 8.7% 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 is in serious trouble: only 8.7% pass first time against the UK average of 80%, making it one of the least reliable cars of its age cohort. Dangerous defects are rare at 2.3%, so safety isn't the primary concern—it's the sheer volume of wear-related failures and advisories that catch owners out.

At nearly 84,000 miles on average, these cars have been well-used, and that mileage context explains why each vehicle racks up an average of 0.28 failures and 0.7 advisories per test. Before buying any 1987 Legend, budget for a full pre-purchase inspection and factor in continuous repair costs, because passing MOT is the exception rather than the rule with this model.

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

First-time pass

8.7%

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.

What tends to go wrong

Based on 132 cars. % = share of cohort with at least one match (advisories + failures combined).

~1 in 3 Brake wear

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (38.1%) · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (10.3%)

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

~1 in 3 Suspension & steering

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (26.8%) · Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (26.8%)

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

~1 in 3 Other issues

Oil leak (26.8%) · Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split (13.4%) · Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split (12.4%) · …

~1 in 6 Lighting

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (20.6%)

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

~1 in 6 Tyre wear

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (19.6%) · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (19.6%) · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (13.4%) · …

💡 Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. A used-car inspection will confirm how much is left.

~1 in 6 Exhaust & emissions

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (19.6%) · Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (10.3%)

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987. Counts include advisories and failures.

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.

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