2018 Nissan 370 Z — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 290 MOT tests, the 2018 Nissan 370 Z recorded a 96.2% pass rate. That is 7.4 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 11.2%. Failures cluster in visibility, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (1.7%) and lighting & signalling (1.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and registration plates — headlamp aim alone was recorded 5 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 19.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 1.7% | 5 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 4 |
| 3 | Tyres | 1.4% | 4 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.0% | 3 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 5 |
| 2 | Wipers | 4 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 4 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 3 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 1 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 1 |
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 | 19.0% | 55 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.2% | 15 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.4% | 7 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.0% | 3 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.0% | 3 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.7% | 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 | 212 | 3.8% |
| 30-60k | 68 | 4.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 47 | 2.1% |
| 2022 | 58 | 5.2% |
| 2023 | 56 | 3.6% |
| 2024 | 66 | 6.1% |
| 2025 | 63 | 1.6% |
What to check before buying a 2018 370 Z
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: visibility accounted for 1.7% of tests. Start there.
- Visibility (1.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Lighting & signalling (1.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (1.4% 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 2018 Nissan 370 Zs pass their MOT?
96.2% of the 290 2018 Nissan 370 Z MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 3.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Nissan 370 Z?
Visibility, recorded in 1.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.4%).
Does the 2018 370 Z get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.8% in the 0-30k band to 4.4% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 290 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.