2004 Nissan 350 Z — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,078 MOT tests, the 2004 Nissan 350 Z recorded a 78.1% pass rate. That is 5.8 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.1%) and emissions & environmental (9.2%) 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 rigid brake pipes — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 715 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.8% once past 150k — 4.0× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 31.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.3% in 2021 to 20.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 716 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 9.2% | 649 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.4% | 597 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.4% | 385 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.0% | 352 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.5% | 248 |
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 | 715 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 414 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 380 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 303 |
| 5 | Washers | 277 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 223 |
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 | 31.1% | 2,202 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.8% | 2,179 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.1% | 1,566 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.1% | 854 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 665 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.5% | 387 |
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 | 176 | 6.3% |
| 30-60k | 804 | 17.9% |
| 60-90k | 2,164 | 20.5% |
| 90-120k | 2,477 | 23.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,139 | 25.1% |
| 150k+ | 311 | 24.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,631 | 22.3% |
| 2022 | 1,548 | 21.9% |
| 2023 | 1,418 | 21.6% |
| 2024 | 1,309 | 22.9% |
| 2025 | 1,172 | 20.7% |
What to check before buying a 2004 350 Z
On a 2004 350 Z, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (9.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (8.4% 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
How many 2004 Nissan 350 Zs pass their MOT?
78.1% of the 7,078 2004 Nissan 350 Z MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Nissan 350 Z?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.1% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (9.2%).
Does the 2004 350 Z get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.3% in the 0-30k band to 24.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,078 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.