Nissan Silvia (1988)
1988 Nissan Silvia
CarHunch analysed 130 real MOT records for the 1988 Nissan Silvia. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
This 1988 Silvia has a 64.7% first-time pass rate—well below the UK average of 80%—which signals these cars are ageing and require serious pre-purchase inspection. The 13.9% rate of dangerous defects is not alarming, but combined with an average of 1.68 failures per test, you're looking at a vehicle that demands regular maintenance commitment.
At 100,000 miles median mileage for a 36-year-old car, these Silvias have been driven reasonably hard but not excessively. The real story is the 6.1 advisories per vehicle: suspension wear, rust, and cooling system issues are routine on machines this old. Before buying, budget for immediate work on brakes and steering components, and have a pre-purchase inspection done by a specialist familiar with 1980s Nissans.
What to check before buying a 1988 Nissan Silvia
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 Silvia
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Mileage Distribution
Most 1988 Nissan Silvia 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 1988 Nissan Silvia vehicles fall between 74,244 and 120,041 miles.
1988 Nissan Silvia — Still on the Road
Strong survival — 13 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 87% of the peak.
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1988 Nissan Silvia
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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36.2%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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17.6%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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17%
Oil leak
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15.1%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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14.8%
Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play
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14.2%
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive
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13.8%
Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases
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13.5%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1988. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Nissan Silvia?
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