2005 Nissan Cube — MOT failures & pass rate
524 MOT tests on the 2005 Nissan Cube are in this dataset, and 81.9% of them passed. That is 9.6 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests against 5.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, headlamp aim and position lamp — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 33 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2005 Cube fails 14.7% of the time in the 30-60k band and 16.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.7 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 21.2% 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 | 15.1% | 79 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.3% | 28 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.0% | 26 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.6% | 24 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.6% | 19 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 13 |
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 | 33 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 28 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 19 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 18 |
| 5 | Washers | 18 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 14 |
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 | 21.2% | 111 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.6% | 108 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.5% | 76 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 67 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 46 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.9% | 31 |
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 | 75 | 14.7% |
| 60-90k | 163 | 17.8% |
| 90-120k | 124 | 19.4% |
| 120-150k | 101 | 20.8% |
| 150k+ | 55 | 16.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 79 | 16.5% |
| 2022 | 88 | 15.9% |
| 2023 | 94 | 17.0% |
| 2024 | 143 | 23.1% |
| 2025 | 120 | 15.8% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Cube
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.3% 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 (5.0% 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.
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 2005 Nissan Cubes pass their MOT?
81.9% of the 524 2005 Nissan Cube MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Nissan Cube?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests, followed by brakes (5.3%).
Does the 2005 Cube get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.7% in the 30-60k band to 16.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 524 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.