1997 Nissan 200 Sx — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 375 MOT tests, the 1997 Nissan 200 Sx recorded an 84.8% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 25.1% of the time, so this is 9.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.9%) and emissions & environmental (7.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, washers and chassis condition — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 52 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.3% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 17.3% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 20.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 37 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 7.5% | 28 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.9% | 22 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.8% | 18 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.5% | 17 |
| 6 | Brakes | 4.5% | 17 |
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 | 52 |
| 2 | Washers | 15 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 15 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 15 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 13 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 12 |
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 | 20.5% | 77 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.8% | 63 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.7% | 59 |
| 4 | Tyres | 10.7% | 40 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.4% | 39 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.6% | 21 |
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 | 72 | 8.3% |
| 90-120k | 136 | 18.4% |
| 120-150k | 80 | 15.0% |
| 150k+ | 52 | 17.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 87 | 11.5% |
| 2022 | 82 | 18.3% |
| 2023 | 69 | 17.4% |
| 2024 | 67 | 11.9% |
| 2025 | 70 | 17.1% |
What to check before buying a 1997 200 Sx
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (7.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Visibility (5.9% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 1997 Nissan 200 Sxs pass their MOT?
84.8% of the 375 1997 Nissan 200 Sx MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Nissan 200 Sx?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.9% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (7.5%).
Does the 1997 200 Sx get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.3% in the 60-90k band to 17.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 375 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.