Nissan 370 Z MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 15 model years and 9,504 tests, the Nissan 370 Z passes its MOT 88.4% of the time. Against all cars of a similar age (21.8% fail rate), the 370 Z comes out 10.2pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.7%) and emissions & environmental (3.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, tread depth and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 385 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.9% in the 0-30k band and 19.4% in the 150k+ band, a 13.4-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every 370 Z model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 1,237 | 83.8% | 16.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 3,468 | 87.2% | 12.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 1,709 | 88.5% | 11.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 586 | 88.6% | 11.4% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2013 | 350 | 91.1% | 8.9% | Tyres |
| 2014 | 417 | 89.0% | 11.0% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2015 | 428 | 91.4% | 8.6% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2016 | 448 | 91.1% | 8.9% | Tyres |
| 2017 | 400 | 93.5% | 6.5% | Tyres |
| 2018 | 290 | 96.2% | 3.8% | Visibility |
| 2019 | 79 | 94.9% | 5.1% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2020 | 74 | 96.0% | 4.0% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 352 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 328 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.3% | 309 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 260 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.3% | 220 |
| 6 | Brakes | 1.6% | 151 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 131 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.4% | 41 |
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 | 385 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 253 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 204 |
| 4 | Wipers | 158 |
| 5 | Washers | 147 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 126 |
| 7 | Exhaust system | 90 |
| 8 | Position lamp | 73 |
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 | 18.9% | 1,800 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.5% | 1,280 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.0% | 1,233 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 481 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 411 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.2% | 306 |
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 | 1,624 | 5.9% |
| 30-60k | 3,488 | 9.6% |
| 60-90k | 3,138 | 14.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,049 | 17.2% |
| 120-150k | 173 | 13.9% |
| 150k+ | 31 | 19.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,826 | 11.1% |
| 2022 | 1,906 | 10.9% |
| 2023 | 1,909 | 11.8% |
| 2024 | 1,972 | 12.9% |
| 2025 | 1,891 | 11.4% |
What to check before buying a Nissan 370 Z
- Lighting & signalling (3.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (3.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Tyres (3.3% 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.
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 370 Z?
88.4% of the 9,504 Nissan 370 Z MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 11.6% fail rate, across model years 2007–2021.
What does the Nissan 370 Z most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.7% of tests, then emissions & environmental (3.5%).
How much does mileage affect 370 Z MOT results?
Fail rates run at 5.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 19.4% for 150k+, a 13.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,504 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.