2009 Nissan 370 Z — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,237 MOT tests, the 2009 Nissan 370 Z recorded an 83.8% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (25.5% fail rate), the 2009 370 Z comes out 9.3pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.0%) and emissions & environmental (5.3%) 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 headlamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 71 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.0% in the 0-30k band and 22.9% in the 120-150k band, a 12.9-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 87 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 66 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.7% | 58 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.7% | 46 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.1% | 39 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 29 |
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 | 71 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 47 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 38 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 33 |
| 5 | Washers | 32 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 24 |
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 | 20.5% | 254 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.8% | 232 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.7% | 231 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 109 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 84 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.5% | 55 |
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 | 40 | 10.0% |
| 30-60k | 293 | 11.9% |
| 60-90k | 614 | 16.4% |
| 90-120k | 246 | 20.3% |
| 120-150k | 35 | 22.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 248 | 14.9% |
| 2022 | 255 | 15.7% |
| 2023 | 258 | 17.8% |
| 2024 | 246 | 17.1% |
| 2025 | 230 | 15.2% |
What to check before buying a 2009 370 Z
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (5.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (4.7% 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 2009 Nissan 370 Zs pass their MOT?
83.8% of the 1,237 2009 Nissan 370 Z MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Nissan 370 Z?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.0% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (5.3%).
Does the 2009 370 Z get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 0-30k band to 22.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,237 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.