Nissan reliability by model
25 Nissan models, 4,760,099 MOT tests. The average Nissan passes 68% of tests, against 71.7% for all cars, and 89.7% of them pass the first MOT at three years old. Raw pass rates range from 47.4% for the Primastar to 80.7% for the Leaf. Discontinued models are tested only as old cars, so the fairer comparison is the age-adjusted column.
| Model | Pass rate | Age-adjusted | Tests | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Qashqai | 69.5% | -4.2 | 1,707,441 | 2007 to 2023 |
| Nissan Juke | 70% | -5.1 | 928,836 | 2010 to 2023 |
| Nissan Micra | 64% | -1.1 | 712,818 | 2000 to 2022 |
| Nissan Note | 64% | +0.4 | 451,518 | 2006 to 2017 |
| Nissan X-Trail | 70.2% | -2.8 | 270,199 | 2002 to 2021 |
| Nissan Navara | 67.4% | -7.8 | 209,965 | 2004 to 2021 |
| Nissan Leaf | 80.7% | -0.9 | 133,021 | 2011 to 2022 |
| Nissan NV200 | 55.7% | -15.8 | 74,124 | 2010 to 2019 |
| Nissan Pulsar | 73.2% | -3.1 | 62,371 | 2014 to 2018 |
| Nissan Almera | 55.6% | – | 41,086 | 2001 to 2006 |
| Nissan Elgrand | 67.5% | -4.9 | 36,340 | 2002 to 2021 |
| Nissan Pixo | 64.4% | +3.2 | 33,951 | 2009 to 2013 |
| Nissan Primastar | 47.4% | -16.1 | 26,392 | 2003 to 2014 |
| Nissan Pathfinder | 54% | -8 | 16,951 | 2005 to 2014 |
| Nissan e-NV200 | 73.8% | -12.4 | 15,502 | 2018 to 2021 |
| Nissan 350 | 71% | +16.4 | 12,313 | 2004 to 2008 |
| Nissan Primera | 55.6% | – | 6,295 | 2003 to 2006 |
| Nissan NV300 | 72.3% | -12 | 6,107 | 2017 to 2021 |
| Nissan NV250 | 69% | -18 | 4,820 | 2020 to 2021 |
| Nissan Cube | 61.2% | +1.2 | 2,781 | 2010 to 2010 |
| Nissan 370 | 83.7% | +23.7 | 1,815 | 2010 to 2010 |
| Nissan GT-R | 94% | +34.5 | 1,808 | 2009 to 2009 |
| Nissan Ariya | 91.2% | +3.3 | 1,359 | 2022 to 2022 |
| Nissan Terrano | 53.7% | – | 1,204 | 2004 to 2004 |
| Nissan Pickup | 56.3% | – | 1,082 | 2004 to 2004 |
Click through for the year-by-year pass rates, the failure list, the advisories to look for on a used example and the mileage at which each Nissan starts to struggle. For a specific car, the free MOT history check shows its own record against these averages, and the full make-by-make comparison shows where Nissan sits overall.
Questions people ask
Are Nissans reliable?
Nissan cars pass 68% of MOTs against 71.7% for all cars, from 4,760,099 tests, and 89.7% pass their first test at three years old. Within the range the Pixo is the strongest once age is allowed for and the Primastar the weakest.
Which Nissan is the most reliable?
Age-adjusted, the Nissan Pixo, at +3.2 points against cars of the same age; on raw pass rate the Leaf leads at 80.7%, helped by a younger fleet.
What fails Nissans most at the MOT?
Across the range: a worn ball joint, brake pads worn below 1.5mm and play in a track rod end. Each model page lists its own top failures and the advisories that come before them.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 to 2025. Methodology.