Nissan Urvan (1988)
1988 Nissan Urvan
CarHunch analysed 117 real MOT records for the 1988 Nissan Urvan. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1988 Nissan Urvan has a first-time MOT pass rate of 66.7%, which is notably below the UK average of 80%, suggesting these vehicles are ageing and increasingly prone to failures. The dangerous defect rate is modest at 7.7%, so while reliability is a concern, catastrophic safety issues are not the primary worry here.
At 35 years old, these Urvans are averaging 118,183 miles, which is reasonable for their age, but the 1.35 failures per vehicle and 4.6 advisories tell you that wear-and-tear maintenance is constant—expect regular bills for suspension, brakes, and exhaust work. Before purchasing, get a pre-buy inspection focused on the cooling system and structural rust, as these vans are far enough along that hidden corrosion will be your biggest financial risk.
What to check before buying a 1988 Nissan Urvan
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 Urvan
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 (68%) | 80 | 65.5% | 1.56 |
| Diesel (32%) | 37 | 69.4% | 0.89 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1988 Nissan Urvan 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 Urvan vehicles fall between 83,723 and 132,665 miles.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1988 Nissan Urvan
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
-
20%
Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel
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17.9%
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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15.7%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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15.7%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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14.3%
Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
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14.3%
Oil leak
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13.6%
Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
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13.6%
Nearside Rear 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 Urvan?
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