MOT performance
Nissan Pulsar diesel: MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 13,048 MOT tests on diesel Nissan Pulsars in 2023–2024 (on average 7.3 years old at test, median 67,640 miles), 65.4% passed first time, against 78.4% of 29,501 petrol Nissan Pulsar tests. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, diesel Nissan Pulsars failed 42% more often than comparable cars — 1.42× against 1.14× for the Nissan Pulsar as a whole.
13,048 MOT tests on 6,470 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 65.4% | ±0.8 pts (95%), n = 13,048 |
| All Nissan Pulsars | 74.5% | n = 42,549 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 1.42× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00; Nissan Pulsar overall 1.14× |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 11.2% | n = 13,048 |
| Average age at test | 7.3 years | n = 13,048 |
| Registration years covered | 2014–2018 | DVSA first-use date |
Diesel against the other Nissan Pulsar fuels
Official DVSA test results by fuel, with 73 Auto's adjusted ratio (failures against cars of the same age, mileage and fuel).
| Fuel | Tests | Average age | First-time pass | vs similar cars | Dangerous |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 29,501 | 6.9 yrs | 78.4% | Same | 7.2% |
| Diesel | 13,048 | 7.3 yrs | 65.4% | +42% | 11.2% |
Where diesel Nissan Pulsars differ
- Steering: diesel Nissan Pulsars failed 53% more often than the Nissan Pulsar overall, relative to comparable cars (4.37× vs 2.86×).
- Driver's view of the road: diesel Nissan Pulsars failed 45% more often than the Nissan Pulsar overall, relative to comparable cars (0.80× vs 0.55×).
- Suspension: diesel Nissan Pulsars failed 42% more often than the Nissan Pulsar overall, relative to comparable cars (2.77× vs 1.95×).
- Brakes: diesel Nissan Pulsars failed 29% more often than the Nissan Pulsar overall, relative to comparable cars (1.90× vs 1.47×).
| Area | Diesel (vs similar) | All Nissan Pulsars (vs similar) |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 17.0% (+177%) | 10.4% (+95%) |
| Brakes | 9.9% (+90%) | 6.6% (+47%) |
| Tyres | 8.2% (+21%) | 6.5% (+6%) |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 6.8% (-6%) | 4.9% (-24%) |
| Steering | 5.1% (+337%) | 3.2% (+186%) |
| Driver's view of the road | 2.8% (-20%) | 2.0% (-45%) |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.0% (-7%) | 1.8% (-3%) |
Most common diesel Nissan Pulsar failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn | Suspension | 8.37% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 6.48% |
| Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play | Steering | 4.62% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 4.11% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 3.82% |
Pass rate by age, by fuel
| Age at test (years) | diesel pass rate (tests) | petrol pass rate (tests) |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | — | 89.6% (1,239) |
| 5-6 | 75.0% (2,941) | 83.6% (10,091) |
| 7-8 | 63.7% (8,219) | 75.9% (15,123) |
| 9-10 | 56.2% (1,759) | 68.9% (2,900) |
Nissan Pulsar by registration year
Registration-year pages cover every fuel of that year.
- 2014 Nissan Pulsar · 64.0%
- 2015 Nissan Pulsar · 68.6%
- 2016 Nissan Pulsar · 75.6%
- 2017 Nissan Pulsar · 80.9%
- 2018 Nissan Pulsar · 86.0%
What this does and doesn't tell you
Fuel is DVSA's recorded fuel type; plug-in and self-charging hybrids are grouped as hybrid. A difference between fuels can come from the engines themselves, or from how the cars are used — diesels typically cover more miles, and the adjusted ratio allows for mileage band but not for every difference in use. For one car, its own MOT history is the better guide: see MOT check.
Check a specific diesel Nissan Pulsar
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.