1987 Bedford Rascal — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 264 MOT tests, the 1987 Bedford Rascal recorded a 69.7% pass rate. That is 9.7 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 20.8% of all tests — 3.0 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, service brake imbalance and position lamp — service brake performance alone was recorded 36 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 37.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.3% once past 90-120k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 28.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.3% in 2021 to 28.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.8% | 55 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.8% | 47 |
| 3 | Visibility | 9.1% | 24 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.1% | 24 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.7% | 23 |
| 6 | Steering | 8.0% | 21 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 36 |
| 2 | Service brake imbalance | 35 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 28 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 22 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 20 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 18 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 28.4% | 75 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.9% | 71 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 24.6% | 65 |
| 4 | Tyres | 18.2% | 48 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.0% | 37 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 25 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 66 | 37.9% |
| 30-60k | 68 | 22.1% |
| 60-90k | 97 | 32.0% |
| 90-120k | 33 | 27.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 67 | 34.3% |
| 2022 | 60 | 28.3% |
| 2023 | 51 | 31.4% |
| 2024 | 44 | 27.3% |
| 2025 | 42 | 28.6% |
What to check before buying a 1987 Rascal
On a 1987 Rascal, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (20.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (17.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Visibility (9.1% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1987 Bedford Rascals pass their MOT?
69.7% of the 264 1987 Bedford Rascal MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1987 Bedford Rascal?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.8% of tests, followed by brakes (17.8%).
Does the 1987 Rascal get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 37.9% in the 0-30k band to 27.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 264 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.