2016 Nissan Cube — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Nissan Cube passed 76.4% of its 556 recorded MOT tests. That is 9.4 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 14.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.1% of tests against 8.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, headlamp aim and catalyst emissions — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 61 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 29.4% versus 13.5%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 27.9% 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 | 17.1% | 95 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.8% | 49 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.5% | 42 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 29 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.0% | 28 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.0% | 22 |
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 | 61 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 33 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 24 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 23 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 22 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 22 |
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 | 27.9% | 155 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.7% | 126 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.3% | 113 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 62 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.3% | 52 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 48 |
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 | 37 | 13.5% |
| 60-90k | 117 | 20.5% |
| 90-120k | 168 | 23.2% |
| 120-150k | 122 | 25.4% |
| 150k+ | 102 | 29.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 127 | 21.3% |
| 2022 | 129 | 27.1% |
| 2023 | 123 | 21.1% |
| 2024 | 88 | 27.3% |
| 2025 | 89 | 21.3% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Cube
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.8% 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 (7.5% 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 2016 Nissan Cubes pass their MOT?
76.4% of the 556 2016 Nissan Cube MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Nissan Cube?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.1% of tests, followed by suspension (8.8%).
Does the 2016 Cube get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.5% in the 30-60k band to 29.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 556 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.