Nissan Almera MOT pass rate & common failures
121,564 MOT tests on the Nissan Almera (1995–2019) give it a 73.2% pass rate. That is 1.0 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.9%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
Best and worst Almera years
Ranked across Almera years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
The strongest year on this record is 2003 (74.0% pass rate); the weakest is 1999 (68.0%). Older cars carry more of the difference than the average implies.
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.9% of tests against 11.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, headlamp aim and wipers — headlamp alone was recorded 10,261 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.4% in the 0-30k band and 33.8% in the 150k+ band, a 17.3-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 26.8% fail against 29.2% for diesel, a 2.4-point gap across 121,564 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 34.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Almera model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 47 | 72.3% | 27.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 535 | 68.4% | 31.6% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1997 | 756 | 68.4% | 31.6% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1998 | 1,430 | 70.3% | 29.7% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1999 | 1,636 | 68.0% | 32.0% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 2000 | 2,527 | 72.7% | 27.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 6,179 | 73.6% | 26.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 14,824 | 72.4% | 27.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 16,805 | 74.0% | 26.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 29,525 | 73.6% | 26.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 36,919 | 73.1% | 26.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 10,122 | 73.8% | 26.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 173 | 74.6% | 25.4% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.9% | 21,773 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.1% | 13,460 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.6% | 10,461 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 8,001 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.9% | 7,119 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.4% | 6,572 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 6,124 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.5% | 4,265 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 10,261 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 9,777 |
| 3 | Wipers | 6,132 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 6,094 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 5,902 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 5,111 |
| 7 | Position lamp | 4,940 |
| 8 | Exhaust system | 4,870 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 34.6% | 42,113 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.3% | 35,615 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.9% | 29,009 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 21,195 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.0% | 17,048 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.7% | 16,653 |
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 | 2,573 | 16.4% |
| 30-60k | 22,147 | 20.7% |
| 60-90k | 43,797 | 26.1% |
| 90-120k | 34,511 | 29.3% |
| 120-150k | 13,795 | 32.3% |
| 150k+ | 4,311 | 33.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 118,704 | 26.8% |
| Diesel | 2,860 | 29.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 36,314 | 27.0% |
| 2022 | 28,832 | 26.4% |
| 2023 | 23,291 | 26.5% |
| 2024 | 18,672 | 27.5% |
| 2025 | 14,455 | 27.0% |
What to check before buying a Nissan Almera
- Lighting & signalling (17.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.1% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (8.6% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Nissan Almera?
73.2% of the 121,564 Nissan Almera MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 26.8% fail rate, across model years 1995–2019.
What does the Nissan Almera most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.9% of tests, then brakes (11.1%).
Which Almera years are best and worst for MOT results?
2003 has the best pass rate at 74.0% and 1999 the weakest at 68.0%, from 16,805 and 1,636 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Almera MOT results?
Fail rates run at 16.4% for cars in the 0-30k band and 33.8% for 150k+, a 17.3-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Almera more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 26.8% of the time against 29.2% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 121,564 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.