2009 Nissan Cube — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Nissan Cube passed 81.5% of its 951 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 25.6% of the time, so this is 7.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.8% of tests against 5.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, position lamp and headlamp aim — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 66 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.9% in the 0-30k band and 27.9% in the 150k+ band, a 17.0-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 20.1% in 2021 to 17.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 131 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.8% | 55 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.3% | 41 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.1% | 39 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.0% | 29 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 28 |
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 | 66 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 43 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 31 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 27 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 26 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 25 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 20.3% | 193 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.8% | 169 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.6% | 167 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.5% | 109 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.4% | 80 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 69 |
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 | 46 | 10.9% |
| 30-60k | 223 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 306 | 17.0% |
| 90-120k | 150 | 22.7% |
| 120-150k | 104 | 26.0% |
| 150k+ | 122 | 27.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 154 | 20.1% |
| 2022 | 176 | 16.5% |
| 2023 | 215 | 20.0% |
| 2024 | 204 | 18.1% |
| 2025 | 202 | 17.8% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Cube
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.8% 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 (4.3% 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 2009 Nissan Cubes pass their MOT?
81.5% of the 951 2009 Nissan Cube MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Nissan Cube?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.8% of tests, followed by suspension (5.8%).
Does the 2009 Cube get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 0-30k band to 27.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 951 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.