Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1989 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 1989 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 1989 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 1989 Nissan Patrol reliable?

Based on MOT data from 317 vehicles, the 1989 Nissan Patrol has a first-time MOT pass rate of 72.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1989 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 (1989)

Q: What are common problems with the 1989 Nissan Patrol?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1989 Nissan Patrol are: Offside Rear fog lamp not working (18.5% of vehicles), Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (17.4% of vehicles), Offside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (16.2% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

317 real MOT outcomes analysed • 72.1% first-time pass rate

1989 Nissan Patrol

CarHunch analysed 317 real MOT records for the 1989 Nissan Patrol. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 317 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 1989 Nissan Patrol passes its MOT first time in 72% of cases, which is 8 percentage points below the UK average of 80% — a meaningful reliability gap for a 35-year-old vehicle. The dangerous defect rate of 11.4% is moderate and not a cause for serious concern, though it's worth factoring into your pre-purchase inspection.

These Patrols are running at a reasonable mileage for their age, with a median of 147,118 miles, and the average of 1.65 failures per test suggests wear and tear is typical rather than catastrophic. However, advisories average 6.3 per vehicle, indicating accumulated minor issues you should expect to address — have a pre-purchase inspection focus especially on suspension, lighting, and fluid seals before committing to one.

The 1989 Nissan Patrol has a below-average first-time pass rate (72.1% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ 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

72.1%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

11.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.65

Over 5.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

147k

Middle half: 121k–174k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 6.3 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 317 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 317 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Lighting 18.5%

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

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

Suspension & steering 17.4%

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Front 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.

Corrosion / rust 16.2%

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 · Nearside Rear 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.

Other issues 14.1%

Oil leak

Seat belts 13.1%

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

Wipers & washers 10.2%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Tyre wear 8.7%

Offside 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.

Brake wear 7.8%

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 1989.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 317 Nissan Patrol cars.

Before you buy a 1989 Nissan Patrol

Based on MOT data from 317 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 11.4% 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 (74%)	234	71%	1.62
Petrol (26%)	82	75%	1.77

Colour Breakdown

Based on 7,894 Nissan Patrol vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Green 23.1%

1,820

Blue 18.9%

1,493

Red 16.9%

1,333

Silver 11.6%

919

Black 10.4%

823

White 8.6%

681

Grey 7.2%

571

Gold 1.2%

Bronze 1.2%

Maroon 0.3%

Brown 0.3%

Orange 0.3%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1989 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.

147,118

typical

120,683

low mileage

173,929

high mileage

Half of all 1989 Nissan Patrol vehicles fall between 120,683 and 173,929 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 120,683 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.

✓ 120,683–173,929 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1989 Nissan Patrols sit.

⚠ Over 234,804 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1989 Nissan Patrol — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 50% of 1989 Nissan Patrols are still active.

17 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 50% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

5.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.65

Avg failures per vehicle

6.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1988 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

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Compare with another model

See how the 1989 Nissan Patrol stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on