2006 Nissan Cube — MOT failures & pass rate
559 MOT tests on the 2006 Nissan Cube are in this dataset, and 80.0% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 27.5% of the time, so this is 7.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.3% of all tests — 7.2 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rear fog lamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 38 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 26.7% versus 11.2%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 21.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 12.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 91 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.1% | 51 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.3% | 35 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.6% | 20 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 13 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 11 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 38 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 35 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 24 |
| 4 | Ball joint dust cover | 24 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 22 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 16 |
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 | 21.6% | 121 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.9% | 117 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.7% | 99 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 53 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 41 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.8% | 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 | 143 | 11.2% |
| 60-90k | 181 | 18.2% |
| 90-120k | 109 | 25.7% |
| 120-150k | 76 | 28.9% |
| 150k+ | 45 | 26.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 75 | 12.0% |
| 2022 | 97 | 17.5% |
| 2023 | 112 | 20.5% |
| 2024 | 135 | 23.7% |
| 2025 | 140 | 22.1% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Cube
On a 2006 Cube, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.1% 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 (6.3% 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.
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 2006 Nissan Cubes pass their MOT?
80.0% of the 559 2006 Nissan Cube MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Nissan Cube?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.3% of tests, followed by suspension (9.1%).
Does the 2006 Cube get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.2% in the 30-60k band to 26.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 559 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.