1987 Nissan Bluebird — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 270 MOT tests, the 1987 Nissan Bluebird recorded a 78.1% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (20.6% fail rate), the 1987 Bluebird comes out 1.2pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.3%) and body, structure & corrosion (8.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are steering rack, service brake performance and component mounting prescribed areas — steering rack alone was recorded 15 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.7% in the 30-60k band and 36.0% in the 120-150k band, a 19.3-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.6% in 2021 to 20.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.3% | 25 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 23 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.2% | 22 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.3% | 17 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 16 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steering rack | 15 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 13 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 13 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 11 |
| 5 | Joints | 10 |
| 6 | Washers | 9 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 37.4% | 101 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.0% | 54 |
| 3 | Tyres | 15.6% | 42 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 14.8% | 40 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.3% | 36 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.5% | 23 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 42 | 16.7% |
| 60-90k | 87 | 16.1% |
| 90-120k | 69 | 23.2% |
| 120-150k | 50 | 36.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 69 | 24.6% |
| 2022 | 58 | 24.1% |
| 2023 | 50 | 16.0% |
| 2024 | 45 | 22.2% |
| 2025 | 48 | 20.8% |
What to check before buying a 1987 Bluebird
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 9.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (9.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.5% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Brakes (8.2% 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.
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 Nissan Bluebirds pass their MOT?
78.1% of the 270 1987 Nissan Bluebird MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1987 Nissan Bluebird?
Suspension, recorded in 9.3% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (8.5%).
Does the 1987 Bluebird get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.7% in the 30-60k band to 36.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 270 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.