1988 Nissan Bluebird — MOT failures & pass rate
304 MOT tests on the 1988 Nissan Bluebird are in this dataset, and 83.5% of them passed. That is 4.5 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.2%) and body, structure & corrosion (6.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp aim and joints — service brake performance alone was recorded 14 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1988 Bluebird fails 15.6% of the time in the 30-60k band and 16.8% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.3 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 31.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 22 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.9% | 21 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.9% | 18 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.3% | 16 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.6% | 14 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 11 |
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 | 14 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 14 |
| 3 | Joints | 13 |
| 4 | Wipers | 10 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 7 |
| 6 | Wheel bearings | 7 |
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 | 31.9% | 97 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.0% | 85 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 27.6% | 84 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 23.7% | 72 |
| 5 | Tyres | 15.5% | 47 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.9% | 33 |
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 | 45 | 15.6% |
| 60-90k | 91 | 16.5% |
| 90-120k | 107 | 16.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 72 | 16.7% |
| 2022 | 65 | 18.5% |
| 2023 | 58 | 12.1% |
| 2024 | 64 | 15.6% |
| 2025 | 45 | 20.0% |
What to check before buying a 1988 Bluebird
On a 1988 Bluebird, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.9% 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 (5.9% 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 1988 Nissan Bluebirds pass their MOT?
83.5% of the 304 1988 Nissan Bluebird MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1988 Nissan Bluebird?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (6.9%).
Does the 1988 Bluebird get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.6% in the 30-60k band to 16.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 304 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.