2016 Nissan 370 Z — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 448 MOT tests, the 2016 Nissan 370 Z recorded a 91.1% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 14.9% of the time, so this is 6.0pp 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 (4.0%) and lighting & signalling (2.7%) 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 wipers — tread depth alone was recorded 16 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 9.7% once past 60-90k — 2.1× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.0% | 18 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 12 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 8 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.3% | 6 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.9% | 4 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.9% | 4 |
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 | 16 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 9 |
| 3 | Wipers | 8 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 6 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 5 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 3 |
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 | 17.9% | 80 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.6% | 34 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.5% | 20 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.6% | 16 |
| 5 | Steering | 1.8% | 8 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.3% | 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 | 175 | 4.6% |
| 30-60k | 241 | 12.0% |
| 60-90k | 31 | 9.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 76 | 6.6% |
| 2022 | 76 | 5.3% |
| 2023 | 83 | 7.2% |
| 2024 | 109 | 11.9% |
| 2025 | 104 | 11.5% |
What to check before buying a 2016 370 Z
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.0% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.0% 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 (2.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (1.8% 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 2016 Nissan 370 Zs pass their MOT?
91.1% of the 448 2016 Nissan 370 Z MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Nissan 370 Z?
Tyres, recorded in 4.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.7%).
Does the 2016 370 Z get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.6% in the 0-30k band to 9.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 448 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.