2014 Nissan 350 Z — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 272 MOT tests, the 2014 Nissan 350 Z recorded a 91.5% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 17.9% of the time, so this is 9.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.8%) and visibility (3.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, catalyst emissions and washers — tread depth alone was recorded 12 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.4% in the 0-30k band and 16.1% in the 60-90k band, a 9.8-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 11.9% in 2021 to 6.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.8% | 13 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.3% | 9 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 4 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.1% | 3 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 1 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.4% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 12 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 5 |
| 3 | Washers | 5 |
| 4 | Wipers | 5 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 3 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 2 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 18.4% | 50 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.3% | 28 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.7% | 21 |
| 4 | Other defects | 2.9% | 8 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 8 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.2% | 6 |
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 | 94 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 136 | 6.6% |
| 60-90k | 31 | 16.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 67 | 11.9% |
| 2022 | 57 | 8.8% |
| 2023 | 59 | 6.8% |
| 2024 | 43 | 7.0% |
| 2025 | 46 | 6.5% |
What to check before buying a 2014 350 Z
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.8% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (3.3% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (1.5% 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 2014 Nissan 350 Zs pass their MOT?
91.5% of the 272 2014 Nissan 350 Z MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Nissan 350 Z?
Tyres, recorded in 4.8% of tests, followed by visibility (3.3%).
Does the 2014 350 Z get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 16.1% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 272 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.