Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1988 Renault Espace?

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 1988 Renault Espace?

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 1988 Renault Espace?

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 1988 Renault Espace reliable?

Based on MOT data from 467 vehicles, the 1988 Renault Espace has a first-time MOT pass rate of 59.4%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1988 Renault Espace?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1988 Renault Espace are: Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (43.6% of vehicles), Oil leak (17.8% of vehicles), Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (16.9% 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 1988 Renault Espace?

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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Renault Espace (1988)

467 real MOT outcomes analysed • 59.4% first-time pass rate

1988 Renault Espace

CarHunch analysed 467 real MOT records for the 1988 Renault Espace. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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On this page

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

Moderate sample. 467 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 1988 Renault Espace has a below-average first-time pass rate (59.4% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

59.4%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

12%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.34

Over 3.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

143k

Middle half: 118k–167k

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 3.1 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 467 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 467 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 43.6%

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel · Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated · …

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

Other issues 17.8%

Oil leak · oil leak · Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split

Exhaust & emissions 15.4%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive

Tyre wear 13%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Wipers & washers 9%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Suspension & steering 7.4%

Nearside Steering rack gaiter split · Offside Steering rack gaiter split

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1988.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 467 Renault Espace cars.

Before you buy a 1988 Renault Espace

Based on MOT data from 467 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 12% 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
Petrol (99%)	461	59.3%	1.34

Colour Breakdown

Based on 52,774 Renault Espace vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 31.4%

16,580

Red 16.4%

8,635

Silver 15%

7,899

Green 14.6%

7,707

Grey 13.9%

7,356

White 2.9%

1,525

Black 2.5%

1,329

Beige 1.8%

933

Purple 1.3%

691

Maroon 0.1%

Gold 0.1%

Brown 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1988 Renault Espace 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.

143,287

typical

118,080

low mileage

167,092

high mileage

Half of all 1988 Renault Espace vehicles fall between 118,080 and 167,092 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 118,080 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.

✓ 118,080–167,092 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1988 Renault Espaces sit.

⚠ Over 225,574 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

3.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.34

Avg failures per vehicle

3.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Renault Espace: All Espace years → Which year to buy? →

1986 1987 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Or browse all models: Renault →

Compare with another model

See how the 1988 Renault Espace stacks up against a rival.

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