2010 Nissan 370 Z — MOT failures & pass rate
3,468 MOT tests on the 2010 Nissan 370 Z are in this dataset, and 87.2% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 24.4% of the time, so this is 11.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.0%) and emissions & environmental (3.6%) 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 156 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 14.0% once past 120-150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.7% 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 | 4.0% | 137 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 125 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.4% | 119 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.1% | 106 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.7% | 95 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.6% | 55 |
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 | 156 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 94 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 73 |
| 4 | Washers | 61 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 56 |
| 6 | Wipers | 51 |
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 | 18.7% | 650 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.1% | 593 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.8% | 514 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.1% | 210 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 175 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.6% | 126 |
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 | 241 | 8.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,135 | 8.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,422 | 14.6% |
| 90-120k | 546 | 17.4% |
| 120-150k | 107 | 14.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 705 | 12.2% |
| 2022 | 716 | 11.3% |
| 2023 | 689 | 11.9% |
| 2024 | 694 | 15.1% |
| 2025 | 664 | 13.4% |
What to check before buying a 2010 370 Z
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 4.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (4.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (3.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Tyres (3.4% 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.
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 2010 Nissan 370 Zs pass their MOT?
87.2% of the 3,468 2010 Nissan 370 Z MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Nissan 370 Z?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.0% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (3.6%).
Does the 2010 370 Z get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.7% in the 0-30k band to 14.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,468 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.