2004 Nissan Cube — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Nissan Cube passed 77.0% of its 566 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.7 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.4% of all tests — 7.4 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, catalyst emissions and position lamp — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 44 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.1% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 33.6% once past 150k — 3.7× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 27.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 22.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 87 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.0% | 45 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.1% | 40 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.4% | 36 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 35 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 27 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 44 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 31 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 30 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 26 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 25 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 21 |
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 | 27.6% | 156 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.8% | 118 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.4% | 110 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.4% | 76 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 65 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.7% | 38 |
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 | 55 | 9.1% |
| 60-90k | 114 | 21.9% |
| 90-120k | 160 | 21.3% |
| 120-150k | 102 | 22.6% |
| 150k+ | 122 | 33.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 97 | 22.7% |
| 2022 | 93 | 21.5% |
| 2023 | 81 | 13.6% |
| 2024 | 157 | 24.8% |
| 2025 | 138 | 27.5% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Cube
On a 2004 Cube, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.0% 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.
- Brakes (7.1% 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.
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 Cubes pass their MOT?
77.0% of the 566 2004 Nissan Cube MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Nissan Cube?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.4% of tests, followed by suspension (8.0%).
Does the 2004 Cube get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.1% in the 30-60k band to 33.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 566 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.