Nissan 350 Z MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 20 model years and 32,369 tests, the Nissan 350 Z passes its MOT 80.5% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 26.2% of the time, so this is 6.7pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
Best and worst 350 Z years
Ranked across 350 Z years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Not every year is equal — 84.0% of 2009 examples pass against 78.1% of 2004 ones.
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.6%) and emissions & environmental (7.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and position lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 2,559 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.0% in the 0-30k band and 26.0% in the 150k+ band, a 20.0-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 27.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every 350 Z model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 152 | 77.0% | 23.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 2,045 | 78.1% | 21.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 7,078 | 78.1% | 21.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 7,396 | 79.3% | 20.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 5,223 | 78.8% | 21.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 3,974 | 80.7% | 19.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 2,469 | 80.6% | 19.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 1,040 | 84.0% | 16.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 134 | 87.3% | 12.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 108 | 90.7% | 9.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 172 | 92.4% | 7.6% | Tyres |
| 2013 | 316 | 94.0% | 6.0% | Tyres |
| 2014 | 272 | 91.5% | 8.5% | Tyres |
| 2015 | 520 | 92.3% | 7.7% | Tyres |
| 2016 | 533 | 92.3% | 7.7% | Tyres |
| 2017 | 422 | 92.4% | 7.6% | Tyres |
| 2018 | 335 | 92.8% | 7.2% | Tyres |
| 2019 | 125 | 92.0% | 8.0% | Suspension |
| 2020 | 43 | 90.7% | 9.3% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 2,794 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 7.7% | 2,480 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.9% | 2,233 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.5% | 1,471 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.4% | 1,432 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.4% | 1,115 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.9% | 949 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.4% | 784 |
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 | 2,559 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,533 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,174 |
| 4 | Washers | 1,009 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 999 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 971 |
| 7 | Tread depth | 804 |
| 8 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 743 |
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 | 27.2% | 8,800 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.2% | 7,523 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.3% | 6,907 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.3% | 3,016 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 2,738 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.5% | 1,447 |
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 | 2,131 | 6.0% |
| 30-60k | 6,049 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 10,749 | 19.8% |
| 90-120k | 9,144 | 23.4% |
| 120-150k | 3,312 | 24.1% |
| 150k+ | 945 | 26.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,355 | 19.0% |
| 2022 | 6,976 | 19.3% |
| 2023 | 6,574 | 19.7% |
| 2024 | 5,917 | 19.8% |
| 2025 | 5,547 | 20.0% |
What to check before buying a Nissan 350 Z
- Lighting & signalling (8.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (7.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (6.9% 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 350 Z?
80.5% of the 32,369 Nissan 350 Z MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 19.5% fail rate, across model years 2002–2021.
What does the Nissan 350 Z most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.6% of tests, then emissions & environmental (7.7%).
Which 350 Z years are best and worst for MOT results?
2009 has the best pass rate at 84.0% and 2004 the weakest at 78.1%, from 1,040 and 7,078 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect 350 Z MOT results?
Fail rates run at 6.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 26.0% for 150k+, a 20.0-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 32,369 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.