2000 Nissan 200 Sx — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2000 Nissan 200 Sx passed 82.9% of its 679 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (26.6% fail rate), the 2000 200 Sx comes out 9.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.7%) and suspension (7.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and integral vehicle structure condition — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 53 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2000 200 Sx fails 15.9% of the time in the 30-60k band and 17.0% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.0 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 20.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.7% | 59 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.8% | 53 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 37 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.9% | 33 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 26 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.1% | 21 |
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 | 53 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 50 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 22 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 21 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 19 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 20.3% | 138 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.7% | 134 |
| 3 | Tyres | 16.2% | 110 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.0% | 102 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.4% | 98 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.8% | 53 |
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 | 44 | 15.9% |
| 60-90k | 221 | 17.6% |
| 90-120k | 227 | 18.1% |
| 120-150k | 101 | 15.8% |
| 150k+ | 59 | 17.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 151 | 16.6% |
| 2022 | 138 | 18.1% |
| 2023 | 140 | 17.1% |
| 2024 | 114 | 13.2% |
| 2025 | 136 | 19.9% |
What to check before buying a 2000 200 Sx
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.8% 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 (5.5% 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 2000 Nissan 200 Sxs pass their MOT?
82.9% of the 679 2000 Nissan 200 Sx MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Nissan 200 Sx?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.7% of tests, followed by suspension (7.8%).
Does the 2000 200 Sx get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.9% in the 30-60k band to 17.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 679 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.