2015 Nissan Cube — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Nissan Cube passed 75.2% of its 447 recorded MOT tests. That is 9.2 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 15.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.1% of all tests — 9.2 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, position lamp and headlamp aim — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 41 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.6% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 28.6% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 27.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 22.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.1% | 81 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.9% | 40 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.5% | 38 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.7% | 21 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 20 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.1% | 14 |
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 | 41 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 38 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 24 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 23 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 20 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 14 |
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 | 27.3% | 122 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.2% | 117 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.3% | 113 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 65 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.8% | 44 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.7% | 30 |
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 | 130 | 33.1% |
| 120-150k | 108 | 23.2% |
| 150k+ | 98 | 28.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 116 | 22.4% |
| 2022 | 108 | 24.1% |
| 2023 | 113 | 29.2% |
| 2024 | 57 | 22.8% |
| 2025 | 53 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Cube
On a 2015 Cube, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.9% 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 (8.5% 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 2015 Nissan Cubes pass their MOT?
75.2% of the 447 2015 Nissan Cube MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Nissan Cube?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.1% of tests, followed by suspension (8.9%).
Does the 2015 Cube get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.6% in the 60-90k band to 28.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 447 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.