Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1988 Nissan Patrol?

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 Nissan Patrol?

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 Nissan Patrol?

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 Nissan Patrol reliable?

Based on MOT data from 135 vehicles, the 1988 Nissan Patrol has a first-time MOT pass rate of 68.2%, 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 Nissan Patrol?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1988 Nissan Patrol are: Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (15.2% of vehicles), Offside Rear fog lamp not working (12.6% of vehicles), Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (11.5% 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 1988 Nissan Patrol?

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 Patrol (1988)

135 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68.2% first-time pass rate

1988 Nissan Patrol

CarHunch analysed 135 real MOT records for the 1988 Nissan Patrol. 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

We have limited data for the 1988 Nissan Patrol — 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

68.2%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

9.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.33

Over 4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

148k

Middle half: 121k–183k

For context

These stats describe 135 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 135 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Suspension & steering 15.2%

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play

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

Lighting 12.6%

Offside Rear fog lamp not working · Rear fog lamp tell tale not working

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

Seat belts 11.5%

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded

Tyre wear 8.4%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front 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 7.9%

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

Wipers & washers 7.3%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid · Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

Other issues 6.3%

Fuel pipe/s corroded · Horn not working

Brake wear 5.8%

Brake pipe excessively corroded · Parking brake: efficiency below requirements

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

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 135 Nissan Patrol cars.

Before you buy a 1988 Nissan Patrol

Based on MOT data from 135 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 9.6% 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
Diesel (70%)	94	67.2%	1.3

Mileage Distribution

Most 1988 Nissan Patrol 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.

147,779

typical

121,227

low mileage

183,352

high mileage

Half of all 1988 Nissan Patrol vehicles fall between 121,227 and 183,352 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 121,227 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.

✓ 121,227–183,352 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1988 Nissan Patrols sit.

⚠ Over 247,525 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

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.33

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Or browse all models: Nissan →

Compare with another model

See how the 1988 Nissan Patrol stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on