1996 Nissan Almera — MOT failures & pass rate
535 MOT tests on the 1996 Nissan Almera are in this dataset, and 68.4% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (25.9% fail rate), the 1996 Almera comes out 5.6pp worse. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (15.5%) and suspension (15.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, joints and wipers — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 125 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1996 Almera fails 31.4% of the time in the 30-60k band and 31.5% at 120-150k, a spread of only 0.1 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 37.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.8% in 2021 to 24.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.5% | 83 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.1% | 81 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 76 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.4% | 45 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.5% | 35 |
| 6 | Brakes | 6.4% | 34 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 125 |
| 2 | Joints | 47 |
| 3 | Wipers | 45 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 40 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 38 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 27 |
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 | 37.4% | 200 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 28.4% | 152 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.2% | 140 |
| 4 | Suspension | 22.2% | 119 |
| 5 | Other defects | 19.1% | 102 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 16.4% | 88 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 102 | 31.4% |
| 60-90k | 191 | 33.0% |
| 90-120k | 142 | 28.9% |
| 120-150k | 73 | 31.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 188 | 29.8% |
| 2022 | 136 | 32.4% |
| 2023 | 95 | 34.7% |
| 2024 | 67 | 35.8% |
| 2025 | 49 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 1996 Almera
On a 1996 Almera, body, structure & corrosion is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.5% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Suspension (15.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (14.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 1996 Nissan Almeras pass their MOT?
68.4% of the 535 1996 Nissan Almera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1996 Nissan Almera?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 15.5% of tests, followed by suspension (15.1%).
Does the 1996 Almera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 31.4% in the 30-60k band to 31.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 535 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.