The Bentley Eight spans 1987–1992 with 3 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.5/5 ForCar reliability score. It delivers competitive fuel economy and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Bentley Eight is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 1987 to 1992 across multiple generations.
How to read a Bentley Eight VIN — every digit explained
Every Bentley Eight carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Bentley and the country it was built in (real Bentley codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this Eight.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- UKSCB · SJA
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the VIN is stamped on your Eight, see the complete guide to reading a VIN.
How many recalls does the Bentley Eight have?
The Bentley Eight has 3 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1987–1992. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
1992 Bentley Eight recalls 1
Power Train:automatic Transmission
What's wrong. An incorrectly positioned wire within the electrically operated gearbox actuator can chafe against the cover causing the transmission selector fuse to blow.
Risk. If the fuse blows, the driver cannot change gears or place the vehicle in park. This condition can disable the vehicle transmission, increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.
Fix. Dealers will reposition the affected wire to prevent contact with the gearbox actuator cover.
1990 Bentley Eight recalls 1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
What's wrong. There is insufficient clearance between the right front brake caliper hydraulic line and the engine oil cooler line. If the lines come in contact with each other, the chafing may damage the brake line and cause a fluid leak.
Risk. Hydraulic fluid leak could result in a loss of brakes with the potential for an accident.
Fix. Add a protective shield to prevent contact and replace any damaged hydraulic pipe.
1989 Bentley Eight recalls 1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
What's wrong. There is insufficient clearance between the right front brake caliper hydraulic line and the engine oil cooler line. If the lines come in contact with each other, the chafing may damage the brake line and cause a fluid leak.
Risk. Hydraulic fluid leak could result in a loss of brakes with the potential for an accident.
Fix. Add a protective shield to prevent contact and replace any damaged hydraulic pipe.
Best and worst years for the Bentley Eight
We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint history for the Bentley Eight — best- and worst-year trends will appear here once that data is in.
What are the most common Bentley Eight problems?
We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint data for the Bentley Eight — the most-reported problems will appear here once that data is in.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Bentley Eight specifications & dimensions
The 1992 Bentley Eight. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Bentley Eight window sticker.
| Specs cache warming… |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Bentley Eight cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the Eight holds — passengers and cargo. Seating, cargo and interior dimensions vary by trim and seat configuration — decode your VIN for the exact build.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Bentley Eight tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Bentley Eight get?
MPG cache warming… reload in a moment.
What engines does the Bentley Eight have? Power & range
Powertrain data warming… reload in a moment.
How much does a Bentley Eight cost to own?
A Bentley Eight depreciates at about an average rate. A typical example keeps roughly 46% of its value after five years — losing about 54% to depreciation. Check what a used Eight is worth today or browse current used-market prices before you buy or sell. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 80% | $24,000 | −$6,000 |
| Year 2 | 70% | $21,000 | −$9,000 |
| Year 3 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 4 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 5 | 46% | $13,800 | −$16,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this Eight loses about 54% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — based on EPA economy at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the Eight ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Bentley Eight safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the Eight yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
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How many miles does a Bentley Eight last?
A well-maintained Bentley Eight typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.5/5.
Check your Bentley Eight’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this Eight’s VIN free →All Bentley Eight model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Bentley Eight — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 Eight | 1 recall | — | — |
| 1991 Eight | 0 | — | — |
| 1990 Eight | 1 recall | — | — |
| 1989 Eight | 1 recall | — | — |
| 1988 Eight | 0 | — | — |
| 1987 Eight | 0 | — | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the Eight?
We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint history for the Bentley Eight.
How many recalls does the Eight have?
3 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1987–1992. Always check open recalls by your VIN.
How many miles does a Eight last?
A well-maintained Eight typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the Eight reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the Eight is 4.5/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Bentley Eight warranty?
New Bentley models carry a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Bentley dealer.
Where is the Bentley Eight made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your Eight's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Bentley may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the Eight have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.