Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 Nissan Silvia?

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 1987 Nissan Silvia?

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 1987 Nissan Silvia?

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 1987 Nissan Silvia reliable?

Based on MOT data from 132 vehicles, the 1987 Nissan Silvia has a first-time MOT pass rate of 65.7%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1987 Nissan Silvia?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1987 Nissan Silvia are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (36.2% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (17.6% of vehicles), Oil leak (17% 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 1987 Nissan Silvia?

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 Silvia (1987)

132 real MOT outcomes analysed • 65.7% first-time pass rate

1987 Nissan Silvia

CarHunch analysed 132 real MOT records for the 1987 Nissan Silvia. 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 1987 Nissan Silvia has a first-time pass rate of 65.7%, which is notably below the UK average of 80%, signalling that these cars need more work to get through MOT. While the dangerous defect rate of 19.7% is just under the concern threshold, nearly one in five of these cars have shown serious safety issues, so a pre-purchase inspection is essential.

At just over 100,000 miles median mileage, these Silvias are well-used for their age, yet owners report an average of 1.7 failures and 6.8 advisories per test—suggesting widespread wear across multiple systems rather than one critical problem. Before committing to one, budget for at least two or three repairs, and inspect the suspension, brakes, and exhaust closely, as the advisory count hints at aging components throughout.

We have limited data for the 1987 Nissan Silvia — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these cars 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

65.7%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

19.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.7

Over 5.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

99k

Middle half: 69k–123k

For context

These stats describe 132 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.

What tends to go wrong

Based on 132 cars. % = share of cohort with at least one match (advisories + failures combined).

~1 in 3 Brake wear

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (36.2%) · Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (11.3%) · Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (9.7%)

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

~1 in 6 Tyre wear

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (17.6%) · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (15.1%) · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (13.5%) · …

💡 Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. A used-car inspection will confirm how much is left.

~1 in 6 Other issues

Oil leak (17%)

~1 in 10 Suspension & steering

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (14.8%) · Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (12.3%) · Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (11.3%) · …

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

~1 in 10 Exhaust & emissions

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (14.2%) · Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (13.8%) · Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (11.9%) · …

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987. Counts include advisories and failures.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 132 Nissan Silvia cars.

Before you buy a 1987 Nissan Silvia

Based on MOT data from 132 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 19.7% 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 →

Mileage Distribution

Most 1987 Nissan Silvia 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.

99,009

typical

68,824

low mileage

123,274

high mileage

Half of all 1987 Nissan Silvia vehicles fall between 68,824 and 123,274 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 68,824 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.

✓ 68,824–123,274 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1987 Nissan Silvias sit.

⚠ Over 166,419 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1987 Nissan Silvia — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 52% of 1987 Nissan Silvias are still active.

11 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 52% 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

5.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.7

Avg failures per vehicle

6.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1984 1985 1986 1988 1993 1994 1999 2000 2001 2002

Or browse all models: Nissan →

Compare with another model

See how the 1987 Nissan Silvia stacks up against a rival.

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