Nissan 300 Zx MOT pass rate & common failures
The Nissan 300 Zx appears in 2,842 MOT tests spanning model years 1984–2019, and 82.6% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 24.2% of the time, so this is 6.8pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.2% of tests against 6.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 177 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 17.2% in the 0-30k band and 21.4% in the 150k+ band, a 4.1-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 23.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 18.7% in 2021 to 15.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every 300 Zx model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 45 | 77.8% | 22.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1987 | 77 | 83.1% | 16.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1988 | 83 | 80.7% | 19.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 59 | 81.4% | 18.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 213 | 82.6% | 17.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 230 | 86.5% | 13.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 230 | 81.7% | 18.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 158 | 87.3% | 12.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 150 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 35 | 88.6% | 11.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 37 | 81.1% | 18.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 130 | 90.8% | 9.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 146 | 80.8% | 19.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 83 | 80.7% | 19.3% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2001 | 66 | 89.4% | 10.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 112 | 81.3% | 18.8% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2003 | 197 | 79.7% | 20.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 207 | 79.2% | 20.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 147 | 77.5% | 22.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 82 | 79.3% | 20.7% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2007 | 92 | 83.7% | 16.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 37 | 83.8% | 16.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2016 | 36 | 88.9% | 11.1% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 317 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 170 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.5% | 156 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.2% | 149 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.1% | 145 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.5% | 98 |
| 7 | Steering | 3.1% | 88 |
| 8 | Tyres | 2.3% | 66 |
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 | 177 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 139 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 127 |
| 4 | Washers | 111 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 84 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 80 |
| 7 | Rear fog lamp | 80 |
| 8 | Service brake performance | 74 |
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 | 23.3% | 663 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.6% | 585 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 14.1% | 401 |
| 4 | Tyres | 13.9% | 395 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.4% | 296 |
| 6 | Steering | 8.4% | 238 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 87 | 17.2% |
| 30-60k | 340 | 11.2% |
| 60-90k | 916 | 19.2% |
| 90-120k | 911 | 18.4% |
| 120-150k | 453 | 15.2% |
| 150k+ | 131 | 21.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 648 | 18.7% |
| 2022 | 599 | 18.9% |
| 2023 | 556 | 18.5% |
| 2024 | 518 | 14.5% |
| 2025 | 521 | 15.9% |
What to check before buying a Nissan 300 Zx
- Lighting & signalling (11.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
- Suspension (5.5% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Nissan 300 Zx?
82.6% of the 2,842 Nissan 300 Zx MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 17.4% fail rate, across model years 1984–2019.
What does the Nissan 300 Zx most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.2% of tests, then emissions & environmental (6.0%).
How much does mileage affect 300 Zx MOT results?
Fail rates run at 17.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 21.4% for 150k+, a 4.1-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,842 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.