Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 Mazda 626?

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 Mazda 626?

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 Mazda 626?

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 Mazda 626 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 212 vehicles, the 1987 Mazda 626 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 63.4%, 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 Mazda 626?

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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Mazda 626 (1987)

Q: What are common problems with the 1987 Mazda 626?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1987 Mazda 626 are: Oil leak (29.2% of vehicles), Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (22.6% of vehicles), Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (19.1% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

212 real MOT outcomes analysed • 63.4% first-time pass rate

1987 Mazda 626

CarHunch analysed 212 real MOT records for the 1987 Mazda 626. 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 MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 1987 Mazda 626 passes its MOT first time in only 63.3% of cases, well below the UK average of 80%, suggesting these nearly 40-year-old cars are showing their age across the board. With a dangerous defect rate of 7.5%, structural and safety issues aren't common, but they do occur often enough that a thorough pre-purchase inspection is essential.

These 626s average just under 100,000 miles, which is reasonable for their age, yet they're still racking up 1.34 failures and 3.7 advisories per test on average—mainly wear-related problems you'd expect from vehicles of this vintage. Budget for maintenance before purchase and have any prospective buy examined by a specialist familiar with 1980s Mazdas, as generic garages may struggle with parts availability and tuning specifics.

We have limited data for the 1987 Mazda 626 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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

63.4%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

7.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.34

Over 3.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

96k

Middle half: 74k–118k

For context

These stats describe 212 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 212 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 29.2%

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

Brake wear 22.6%

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

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

Suspension & steering 19.1%

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

Tyre wear 16.6%

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

Exhaust & emissions 7.9%

Front Exhaust has a minor 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 212 Mazda 626 cars.

Before you buy a 1987 Mazda 626

Based on MOT data from 212 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 7.6% 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 (99%)	209	63.5%	1.33

Colour Breakdown

Based on 41,907 Mazda 626 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 29.5%

12,373

Blue 21.6%

9,037

Red 20.2%

8,458

Green 12.1%

5,060

White 7.8%

3,280

Black 3.7%

1,565

Grey 3.4%

1,411

Brown 0.8%

327

Gold 0.6%

249

Maroon 0.2%

Beige 0.1%

Bronze 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1987 Mazda 626 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.

95,641

typical

73,780

low mileage

117,537

high mileage

Half of all 1987 Mazda 626 vehicles fall between 73,780 and 117,537 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 73,780 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.

✓ 73,780–117,537 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1987 Mazda 626s sit.

⚠ Over 158,674 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

3.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.34

Avg failures per vehicle

3.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mazda 626: All 626 years → Which year to buy? →

1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Or browse all models: Mazda →

Compare with another model

See how the 1987 Mazda 626 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on