Nissan Bluebird (1990)

4,106 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68% first-time pass rate

1990 Nissan Bluebird

CarHunch analysed 4,106 real MOT records for the 1990 Nissan Bluebird. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 12% below UK average
68%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
102,652
typical mileage
81,044–125,416 middle half
9%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.49
avg MOT failures per car
over 4.5 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1990 Nissan Bluebird

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Nissan Bluebird

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (97%) 3,990 68.2% 1.5
Diesel (3%) 116 62% 1.34

Mileage Distribution

Most 1990 Nissan Bluebird vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

81,044
low mileage
102,652
typical
125,416
high mileage

Half of all 1990 Nissan Bluebird vehicles fall between 81,044 and 125,416 miles.

1990 Nissan Bluebird — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 52 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (26% of peak).

198 52 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

4.5
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.49
Avg failures per vehicle
4.1
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1990 Nissan Bluebird

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 22.9%
    Oil leak
  • 17.5%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 17.3%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 14.5%
    Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
  • 13.7%
    Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
  • 13.5%
    Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play
  • 12.2%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 12.2%
    Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1990. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Nissan Bluebird?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Nissan Bluebird:

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1991