Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1988 Mitsubishi Galant?

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 1988 Mitsubishi Galant?

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 1988 Mitsubishi Galant?

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 1988 Mitsubishi Galant reliable?

Based on MOT data from 242 vehicles, the 1988 Mitsubishi Galant has a first-time MOT pass rate of 63.2%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1988 Mitsubishi Galant?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1988 Mitsubishi Galant are: Oil leak (30% of vehicles), Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (19.8% of vehicles), Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (18.3% 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 1988 Mitsubishi Galant?

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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Mitsubishi Galant (1988)

242 real MOT outcomes analysed • 63.2% first-time pass rate

1988 Mitsubishi Galant

CarHunch analysed 242 real MOT records for the 1988 Mitsubishi Galant. 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 1988 Mitsubishi Galant has a first-time MOT pass rate of 63.2%, which is notably 16.8 percentage points below the UK average of 80%—a clear sign these cars are aging hard and typically need work to pass. With 11.6% having experienced dangerous defects, there's a meaningful safety risk to factor in if you're considering one.

These Galants are averaging 111,811 miles, which is reasonable for their age, but they're racking up an average of 1.56 failures and 5.6 advisories per test, suggesting mechanical wear is widespread. Before buying, budget for pre-purchase inspection and expect repair costs; this is genuinely a project car rather than a straightforward used buy.

We have limited data for the 1988 Mitsubishi Galant — 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

63.2%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

11.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.56

Over 4.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

108k

Middle half: 84k–136k

For context

These stats describe 242 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 242 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 30%

Oil leak · Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split

Suspension & steering 19.8%

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play · …

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

Brake wear 18.3%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated · …

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

Tyre wear 13.3%

Offside 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.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1988.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 242 Mitsubishi Galant cars.

Before you buy a 1988 Mitsubishi Galant

Based on MOT data from 242 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 11.6% 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 (95%)	231	63.3%	1.58

Colour Breakdown

Based on 16,157 Mitsubishi Galant vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 27.6%

4,465

Red 19.1%

3,083

Blue 17.2%

2,774

Green 9.9%

1,594

White 8.2%

1,323

Turquoise 7.2%

1,171

Black 5.1%

820

Purple 2.1%

336

Grey 1.9%

303

Beige 0.9%

151

Maroon 0.5%

Gold 0.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1988 Mitsubishi Galant 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.

107,583

typical

84,200

low mileage

135,709

high mileage

Half of all 1988 Mitsubishi Galant vehicles fall between 84,200 and 135,709 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 84,200 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.

✓ 84,200–135,709 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1988 Mitsubishi Galants sit.

⚠ Over 183,207 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

4.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.56

Avg failures per vehicle

5.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mitsubishi Galant: All Galant years → Which year to buy? →

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Or browse all models: Mitsubishi →

Compare with another model

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Buyer beware — pass it on