1991 Nissan 200 Sx — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 280 MOT tests, the 1991 Nissan 200 Sx recorded an 88.9% pass rate. That is 11.2 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.5%) and body, structure & corrosion (6.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, chassis condition and washers — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 22 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1991 200 Sx fails 10.5% of the time in the 60-90k band and 13.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.0 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 21.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 16.1% in 2021 to 8.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 21 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.4% | 18 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.4% | 18 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.6% | 13 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.6% | 10 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.9% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 22 |
| 2 | Chassis condition | 15 |
| 3 | Washers | 10 |
| 4 | Individual direction indicators | 8 |
| 5 | Wipers | 7 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 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 | 21.4% | 60 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.9% | 50 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.2% | 37 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 12.5% | 35 |
| 5 | Tyres | 12.1% | 34 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.2% | 23 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 57 | 10.5% |
| 90-120k | 119 | 14.3% |
| 120-150k | 42 | 4.8% |
| 150k+ | 37 | 13.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 62 | 16.1% |
| 2022 | 58 | 12.1% |
| 2023 | 45 | 6.7% |
| 2024 | 57 | 10.5% |
| 2025 | 58 | 8.6% |
What to check before buying a 1991 200 Sx
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.4% 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+.
- Suspension (6.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 1991 Nissan 200 Sxs pass their MOT?
88.9% of the 280 1991 Nissan 200 Sx MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Nissan 200 Sx?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (6.4%).
Does the 1991 200 Sx get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.5% in the 60-90k band to 13.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 280 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.