2017 Nissan 350 Z — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 422 MOT tests, the 2017 Nissan 350 Z recorded a 92.4% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 12.1% of the time, so this is 4.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.4%) and lighting & signalling (2.4%) 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 tread depth — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 11 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.4% | 10 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 10 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 7 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.7% | 7 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.7% | 3 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 2 |
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 | 11 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 6 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 5 |
| 4 | Wipers | 4 |
| 5 | Washers | 2 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 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 | 23.9% | 101 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.7% | 24 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.0% | 17 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.5% | 15 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 15 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.5% | 2 |
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 | 278 | 5.4% |
| 30-60k | 114 | 11.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 112 | 6.3% |
| 2022 | 101 | 5.9% |
| 2023 | 88 | 10.2% |
| 2024 | 59 | 5.1% |
| 2025 | 62 | 11.3% |
What to check before buying a 2017 350 Z
On a 2017 350 Z, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 2.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (2.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (1.7% 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 2017 Nissan 350 Zs pass their MOT?
92.4% of the 422 2017 Nissan 350 Z MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Nissan 350 Z?
Tyres, recorded in 2.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.4%).
Does the 2017 350 Z get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.4% in the 0-30k band to 11.4% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 422 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.