Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1991 Nissan Cabstar?

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 1991 Nissan Cabstar?

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 1991 Nissan Cabstar?

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.

How many 1991 Nissan Cabstar vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

20% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 1991 Nissan Cabstar reliable?

Based on MOT data from 158 vehicles, the 1991 Nissan Cabstar has a first-time MOT pass rate of 62%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1991 Nissan Cabstar?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1991 Nissan Cabstar are: Service brake: efficiency below requirements (42% of vehicles), Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (28.8% of vehicles), Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (25.5% 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 1991 Nissan Cabstar?

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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Nissan Cabstar (1991)

158 real MOT outcomes analysed • 62% first-time pass rate

1991 Nissan Cabstar

CarHunch analysed 158 real MOT records for the 1991 Nissan Cabstar. 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 Compare Models

The 1991 Nissan Cabstar is a notably unreliable prospect by modern MOT standards, with a first-time pass rate of just 62.0% against the UK average of 80%. One in five of these vehicles (20.2%) have recorded dangerous defects during testing, which is a genuine safety concern for any buyer considering one.

These Cabstars are carrying substantial mileage for their age—averaging 111,921 miles—and that shows in the failure data: the average vehicle racks up 1.71 failures and 4.9 advisories per test, suggesting chronic wear across multiple systems. If you're seriously interested in one, budget for immediate professional inspection of the brakes, suspension, and structural integrity before committing to purchase.

We have limited data for the 1991 Nissan Cabstar — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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

62%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

20.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.71

Over 4.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

120k

Middle half: 99k–143k

For context

These stats describe 158 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 158 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 42%

Service brake: efficiency below requirements · Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

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

Seat belts 25.5%

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded · Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded · Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded · …

Wipers & washers 15.4%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Other issues 13.8%

Oil leak

Lighting 12.5%

Offside Rear fog lamp not working

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

Exhaust & emissions 12.5%

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases

Suspension & steering 11.9%

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel

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

Tyre wear 11.3%

Nearside Rear 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.

Corrosion / rust 10.6%

Offside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings

Inspect sills, subframes and brake pipes in person — photos rarely show structural rust.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1991.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 158 Nissan Cabstar cars.

Before you buy a 1991 Nissan Cabstar

Based on MOT data from 158 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 20.3% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (75%)	118	62.1%	1.61

Mileage Distribution

Most 1991 Nissan Cabstar 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.

119,564

typical

99,232

low mileage

143,429

high mileage

Half of all 1991 Nissan Cabstar vehicles fall between 99,232 and 143,429 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 99,232 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.

✓ 99,232–143,429 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1991 Nissan Cabstars sit.

⚠ Over 193,629 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

1.71

Avg failures per vehicle

4.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Nissan Cabstar: All Cabstar years → Which year to buy? →

1988 1989 1990 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

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Compare with another model

See how the 1991 Nissan Cabstar stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on