2012 Nissan Cube — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 438 MOT tests, the 2012 Nissan Cube recorded an 89.7% pass rate. That is 12.7 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.2% of tests against 2.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, position lamp and tread depth — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 19 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2012 Cube fails 11.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 8.2% at 60-90k, a spread of only 3.2 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 11.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 5.9% of tests failed in 2022 against 12.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 36 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.1% | 9 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.6% | 7 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.1% | 5 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 4 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.7% | 3 |
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 | 19 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 9 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 8 |
| 4 | Wipers | 6 |
| 5 | Switch | 6 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 5 |
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 | 11.0% | 48 |
| 2 | Tyres | 10.5% | 46 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.2% | 27 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 17 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 11 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 10 |
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 | 44 | 11.4% |
| 30-60k | 213 | 7.5% |
| 60-90k | 135 | 8.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 34 | 5.9% |
| 2023 | 110 | 7.3% |
| 2024 | 128 | 10.2% |
| 2025 | 145 | 12.4% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Cube
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (1.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2012 Nissan Cubes pass their MOT?
89.7% of the 438 2012 Nissan Cube MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Nissan Cube?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.2% of tests, followed by tyres (2.1%).
Does the 2012 Cube get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.4% in the 0-30k band to 8.2% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 438 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.