1997 Nissan Almera — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1997 Nissan Almera passed 68.4% of its 756 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail 26.5% of the time, so this is 5.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (15.7%) and suspension (15.6%) 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 prescribed areas — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 184 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 38.9% versus 24.4%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 38.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 28.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 36.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.7% | 119 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.6% | 118 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 70 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.7% | 58 |
| 5 | Brakes | 7.4% | 56 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 44 |
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 | 184 |
| 2 | Joints | 79 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 68 |
| 4 | Wipers | 48 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 40 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 35 |
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 | 38.9% | 294 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.4% | 215 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.4% | 207 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.8% | 195 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.6% | 118 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.8% | 112 |
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 | 172 | 24.4% |
| 60-90k | 266 | 29.3% |
| 90-120k | 172 | 36.6% |
| 120-150k | 85 | 37.6% |
| 150k+ | 54 | 38.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 240 | 28.3% |
| 2022 | 181 | 33.1% |
| 2023 | 143 | 32.9% |
| 2024 | 109 | 31.2% |
| 2025 | 83 | 36.1% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Almera
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: body, structure & corrosion accounted for 15.7% of tests. Start there.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.7% 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 (15.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.3% 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 1997 Nissan Almeras pass their MOT?
68.4% of the 756 1997 Nissan Almera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Nissan Almera?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 15.7% of tests, followed by suspension (15.6%).
Does the 1997 Almera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.4% in the 30-60k band to 38.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 756 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.