2004 Nissan Almera — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 29,525 MOT tests, the 2004 Nissan Almera recorded a 73.6% pass rate. Against small family cars of a similar age (28.0% fail rate), the 2004 Almera comes out 1.7pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.2% of tests against 11.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, headlamp aim and service brake performance — headlamp alone was recorded 2,420 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.3% in the 0-30k band and 32.7% in the 150k+ band, a 18.4-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 26.3% fail against 29.5% for diesel, a 3.2-point gap across 29,525 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 5,070 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.7% | 3,461 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.2% | 2,418 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.7% | 1,691 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 1,604 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.1% | 1,515 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 2,420 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,398 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 1,569 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 1,439 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,395 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 1,195 |
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 | 36.1% | 10,670 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.7% | 8,767 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.3% | 6,877 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.7% | 5,232 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.3% | 3,934 |
| 6 | Steering | 12.1% | 3,574 |
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 | 580 | 14.3% |
| 30-60k | 5,201 | 20.4% |
| 60-90k | 10,591 | 26.1% |
| 90-120k | 8,389 | 28.0% |
| 120-150k | 3,561 | 31.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,119 | 32.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 28,395 | 26.3% |
| Diesel | 1,130 | 29.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,661 | 26.6% |
| 2022 | 6,964 | 25.8% |
| 2023 | 5,701 | 26.2% |
| 2024 | 4,587 | 26.8% |
| 2025 | 3,612 | 26.7% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Almera
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.7% 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 (8.2% 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
How many 2004 Nissan Almeras pass their MOT?
73.6% of the 29,525 2004 Nissan Almera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Nissan Almera?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.2% of tests, followed by brakes (11.7%).
Does the 2004 Almera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.3% in the 0-30k band to 32.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 29,525 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.