2014 Nissan Cube — MOT failures & pass rate
301 MOT tests on the 2014 Nissan Cube are in this dataset, and 76.7% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (17.9% fail rate), the 2014 Cube comes out 5.3pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.3% of tests against 9.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, catalyst emissions and headlamp aim — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 22 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 26.2% versus 14.6%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 28.9% 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 | 16.3% | 49 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.3% | 28 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.0% | 21 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 18 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.0% | 12 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.6% | 11 |
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 | 22 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 18 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 16 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 10 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 10 |
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 | 28.9% | 87 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.6% | 68 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.3% | 61 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 38 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.3% | 31 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.0% | 21 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 82 | 14.6% |
| 90-120k | 88 | 28.4% |
| 120-150k | 50 | 38.0% |
| 150k+ | 42 | 26.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 70 | 20.0% |
| 2022 | 68 | 23.5% |
| 2023 | 71 | 28.2% |
| 2024 | 36 | 22.2% |
| 2025 | 56 | 21.4% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Cube
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.3% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (9.3% 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 (7.0% 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 2014 Nissan Cubes pass their MOT?
76.7% of the 301 2014 Nissan Cube MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Nissan Cube?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.3% of tests, followed by suspension (9.3%).
Does the 2014 Cube get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.6% in the 60-90k band to 26.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 301 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.