2005 Nissan 350 Z — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Nissan 350 Z passed 79.3% of its 7,396 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.6% fail rate), the 2005 350 Z comes out 6.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.7%) and emissions & environmental (8.5%) 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 653 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.8% versus 5.3%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 29.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 720 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 8.5% | 627 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.4% | 548 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.9% | 365 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.6% | 343 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.5% | 257 |
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 | 653 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 416 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 307 |
| 4 | Washers | 255 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 242 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 229 |
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 | 29.0% | 2,144 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.9% | 1,845 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.4% | 1,656 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.7% | 714 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 687 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.7% | 347 |
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 | 265 | 5.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,251 | 15.2% |
| 60-90k | 2,590 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 2,357 | 25.0% |
| 120-150k | 689 | 24.7% |
| 150k+ | 225 | 25.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,651 | 20.4% |
| 2022 | 1,561 | 19.5% |
| 2023 | 1,521 | 21.3% |
| 2024 | 1,364 | 20.4% |
| 2025 | 1,299 | 22.3% |
What to check before buying a 2005 350 Z
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (8.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (7.4% 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 2005 Nissan 350 Zs pass their MOT?
79.3% of the 7,396 2005 Nissan 350 Z MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Nissan 350 Z?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.7% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (8.5%).
Does the 2005 350 Z get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.3% in the 0-30k band to 25.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,396 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.