Nissan Bluebird MOT pass rate & common failures
1,605 MOT tests on the Nissan Bluebird (1981–2024) give it a 79.8% pass rate. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (21.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are suspension, body, structure & corrosion and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.5%) and body, structure & corrosion (8.2%) 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, service brake performance and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 93 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Bluebird fails 18.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 22.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 4.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 31.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Bluebird model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 96 | 77.1% | 22.9% | Steering |
| 1987 | 270 | 78.1% | 21.9% | Suspension |
| 1988 | 304 | 83.5% | 16.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 409 | 80.0% | 20.1% | Suspension |
| 1990 | 383 | 78.3% | 21.7% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1991 | 36 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.5% | 136 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.2% | 132 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 123 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.2% | 116 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.6% | 74 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.7% | 60 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 46 |
| 8 | Tyres | 2.4% | 39 |
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 | 93 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 75 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 65 |
| 4 | Joints | 63 |
| 5 | Steering rack | 52 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 47 |
| 7 | Exhaust system | 46 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 45 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 31.5% | 505 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.6% | 363 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 20.3% | 325 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.9% | 287 |
| 5 | Tyres | 14.1% | 226 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.7% | 140 |
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 | 48 | 18.8% |
| 30-60k | 276 | 16.3% |
| 60-90k | 483 | 18.0% |
| 90-120k | 456 | 21.9% |
| 120-150k | 209 | 25.8% |
| 150k+ | 132 | 22.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 396 | 21.7% |
| 2022 | 337 | 20.2% |
| 2023 | 338 | 20.4% |
| 2024 | 279 | 17.2% |
| 2025 | 255 | 21.2% |
What to check before buying a Nissan Bluebird
- Suspension (8.5% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.2% 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+.
- Lighting & signalling (7.7% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Nissan Bluebird?
79.8% of the 1,605 Nissan Bluebird MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 20.3% fail rate, across model years 1981–2024.
What does the Nissan Bluebird most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 8.5% of tests, then body, structure & corrosion (8.2%).
How much does mileage affect Bluebird MOT results?
Fail rates run at 18.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 22.7% for 150k+, a 4.0-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,605 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.