2011 Nissan Cube — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 887 MOT tests, the 2011 Nissan Cube recorded an 80.5% pass rate. That is 4.0 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.3% of all tests — 3.8 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, pins and bushes and ball joint — position lamp alone was recorded 55 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 30.9% versus 14.2%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 22.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.2% in 2021 to 18.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 109 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.5% | 75 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.5% | 49 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 34 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.6% | 23 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 20 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 55 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 40 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 38 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 33 |
| 5 | Washers | 21 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 19 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 22.8% | 202 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.6% | 200 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.5% | 182 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 82 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.8% | 69 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.8% | 60 |
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 | 254 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 302 | 17.9% |
| 90-120k | 205 | 23.9% |
| 120-150k | 68 | 30.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 122 | 26.2% |
| 2022 | 167 | 17.4% |
| 2023 | 181 | 17.1% |
| 2024 | 201 | 20.4% |
| 2025 | 216 | 18.5% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Cube
On a 2011 Cube, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
- Brakes (5.5% 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 2011 Nissan Cubes pass their MOT?
80.5% of the 887 2011 Nissan Cube MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Nissan Cube?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.3% of tests, followed by suspension (8.5%).
Does the 2011 Cube get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.2% in the 30-60k band to 30.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 887 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.