Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 Renault Master?

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 Renault Master?

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 Renault Master?

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.

How many 1987 Renault Master vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

23% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 1987 Renault Master reliable?

Based on MOT data from 139 vehicles, the 1987 Renault Master has a first-time MOT pass rate of 54%, indicating below-average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1987 Renault Master?

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 Master (1987)

Q: What are common problems with the 1987 Renault Master?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1987 Renault Master are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (90.5% of vehicles), Oil leak (61.1% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (54.7% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

139 real MOT outcomes analysed • 54% first-time pass rate

1987 Renault Master

CarHunch analysed 139 real MOT records for the 1987 Renault Master. 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 Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

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

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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

54%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

23%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.27

Over 5.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

86k

Middle half: 62k–127k

For context

These stats describe 139 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 139 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 90.5%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Service brake: efficiency below requirements · Brake load sensing valve linkage seized · …

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

Other issues 61.1%

Oil leak · Battery insecure · oil leak

Suspension & steering 54.7%

Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · …

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

Wipers & washers 22.6%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Lighting 13.1%

Registration plate lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 139 Renault Master cars.

Before you buy a 1987 Renault Master

Based on MOT data from 139 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 23% 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
Diesel (60%)	83	56%	2.35
Petrol (40%)	55	51%	2.09

Mileage Distribution

Most 1987 Renault Master 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.

85,641

typical

61,602

low mileage

127,327

high mileage

Half of all 1987 Renault Master vehicles fall between 61,602 and 127,327 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 61,602 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.

✓ 61,602–127,327 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1987 Renault Masters sit.

⚠ Over 171,891 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1987 Renault Master — Still on the Road

Almost all 1987 Renault Masters are still on the road.

Strong survival — 11 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2018, 92% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2018.

MOT History Averages

5.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.27

Avg failures per vehicle

6.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Or browse all models: Renault →

Compare with another model

See how the 1987 Renault Master stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on