Nissan Vanette (1988)

133 real MOT outcomes analysed • 57.7% first-time pass rate

1988 Nissan Vanette

CarHunch analysed 133 real MOT records for the 1988 Nissan Vanette. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 22.3% below UK average
57.7%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
103,298
typical mileage
71,659–120,776 middle half
15%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.41
avg MOT failures per car
over 4.2 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1988 Nissan Vanette

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 Vanette

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 (69%) 92 61.5% 1.59
Diesel (31%) 41 49.1% 1

Mileage Distribution

Most 1988 Nissan Vanette 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.

71,659
low mileage
103,298
typical
120,776
high mileage

Half of all 1988 Nissan Vanette vehicles fall between 71,659 and 120,776 miles.

MOT History Averages

4.2
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.41
Avg failures per vehicle
3.5
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1988 Nissan Vanette

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 35%
    Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
  • 23.3%
    Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 16%
    Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 12.9%
    Offside Rear fog lamp not working
  • 12.3%
    Brakes imbalanced across an axle
  • 9.8%
    Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive
  • 9.8%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 9.2%
    Nearside 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 Vanette?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Nissan Vanette:

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002