1994 Nissan 200 Sx — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1994 Nissan 200 Sx passed 85.7% of its 266 recorded MOT tests. That is 9.6 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.2% of all tests — 3.0 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and component mounting prescribed areas — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 21 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 27.3% versus 10.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 18.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 17.1% in 2021 to 10.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 27 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.1% | 19 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 16 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.9% | 13 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 12 |
| 6 | Brakes | 2.6% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 21 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 14 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 14 |
| 4 | Washers | 8 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 8 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 8 |
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 | 18.4% | 49 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.9% | 45 |
| 3 | Tyres | 13.5% | 36 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.7% | 31 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.1% | 19 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.0% | 16 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 30 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 63 | 15.9% |
| 90-120k | 63 | 14.3% |
| 120-150k | 44 | 9.1% |
| 150k+ | 44 | 27.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 70 | 17.1% |
| 2022 | 51 | 13.7% |
| 2023 | 53 | 15.1% |
| 2024 | 46 | 13.0% |
| 2025 | 46 | 10.9% |
What to check before buying a 1994 200 Sx
On a 1994 200 Sx, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.1% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (6.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 1994 Nissan 200 Sxs pass their MOT?
85.7% of the 266 1994 Nissan 200 Sx MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1994 Nissan 200 Sx?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.2% of tests, followed by suspension (7.1%).
Does the 1994 200 Sx get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 30-60k band to 27.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 266 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.