MOT performance
Nissan MOT pass rates and common failures
Across 3,269,925 MOT tests of Nissan cars in 2023–2024, 68.2% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, Nissans failed 13% more often than comparable cars. Of the 16 Nissan models with enough tests, the Nissan 350 Z failed least often relative to comparable cars.
3,269,925 MOT tests on 1,685,955 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 68.2% | ±0.1 pts (95%), n = 3,269,925 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 1.13× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 8.4% | n = 3,269,925 |
| Average age at test | 9.4 years | n = 3,269,925 |
Nissan models
Every Nissan model with at least 10,000 tests, most-tested first.
| Model | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Qashqai | 1,126,671 | 69.8% | 1.12× |
| Nissan Juke | 612,114 | 70.2% | 1.21× |
| Nissan Micra | 502,606 | 64.0% | 1.16× |
| Nissan Note | 309,831 | 64.4% | 1.04× |
| Nissan X-Trail | 186,399 | 70.6% | 1.08× |
| Nissan Navara | 145,370 | 67.6% | 1.14× |
| Nissan Leaf | 81,819 | 80.9% | 1.13× |
| Nissan NV200 | 51,677 | 56.5% | 1.47× |
| Nissan Pulsar | 42,549 | 74.5% | 1.14× |
| Nissan Almera | 32,574 | 55.6% | 1.06× |
| Nissan Elgrand | 25,709 | 68.1% | 0.87× |
| Nissan Pixo | 23,662 | 64.7% | 1.05× |
| Nissan Primastar | 19,096 | 46.9% | 1.25× |
| Nissan Pathfinder | 12,396 | 53.4% | 1.13× |
| Nissan 350 Z | 10,960 | 72.9% | 0.67× |
| Nissan E-NV200 | 10,297 | 74.0% | 1.92× |
Where Nissans fail
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 12.6% | +45% |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 11.7% | +8% |
| Brakes | 7.3% | +12% |
| Driver's view of the road | 5.8% | +24% |
| Tyres | 5.7% | -11% |
| Steering | 3.9% | +119% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 3.7% | +15% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.9% | -6% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 1.5% | +67% |
| Road wheels | 0.5% | +38% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.3% | -5% |
| Speedometer and driving controls | 0.0% | -10% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn | Suspension | 4.51% |
| Position lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 3.60% |
| Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play | Steering | 3.19% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 2.99% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 2.78% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 2.66% |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension | 2.33% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 2.15% |
| Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | Body, chassis and structure | 1.74% |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.72% |
Pass rate by age
| Age at test (years) | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 360,501 | 85.7% | +4% |
| 5-6 | 510,276 | 80.3% | +8% |
| 7-8 | 597,205 | 73.8% | +9% |
| 9-10 | 493,863 | 63.4% | +19% |
| 11-12 | 390,193 | 55.7% | +21% |
| 13-15 | 396,407 | 53.5% | +13% |
| 16+ | 396,829 | 54.3% | +10% |
MOT failures where Nissan stands out
Individual failure items that Nissans record clearly more or less often than cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. All Nissan MOT failure patterns.
- Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn · 3.11× comparable cars
- Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play · 3.10× comparable cars
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn · 1.98× comparable cars
- Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn · 2.18× comparable cars
- Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps · 1.65× comparable cars
Check a specific Nissan
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.