Nissan D21 (1987)
1987 Nissan D21
CarHunch analysed 143 real MOT records for the 1987 Nissan D21. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1987 Nissan D21 is substantially less reliable than the UK average: only 65.2% pass their MOT first time, compared to 80% nationally. With 10.5% of vehicles having recorded dangerous defects, this pickup truck demands a thorough pre-purchase inspection and close attention to safety-critical systems.
These trucks are running at sensible mileages for their age (median 106,116 miles), but they're accumulating serious problems—averaging 1.87 failures and 5.5 advisories per test. Before committing to one, get a full mechanical survey focused on the brakes, steering, and suspension, as these older workhorses need robust maintenance records to be roadworthy.
What to check before buying a 1987 Nissan D21
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 D21
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 (89%) | 127 | 65.8% | 1.88 |
| Diesel (11%) | 16 | 61.2% | 1.75 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1987 Nissan D21 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.
Half of all 1987 Nissan D21 vehicles fall between 80,307 and 137,318 miles.
1987 Nissan D21 — Still on the Road
11 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2018 — 73% of the peak remain.
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2018.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1987 Nissan D21
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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17.2%
Offside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings
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12.8%
Offside Rear fog lamp not working
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12.6%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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12.6%
Nearside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings
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12%
Fuel pipe/s corroded
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11.3%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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10.3%
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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9.7%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Nissan D21?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.