2020 Nissan Cube — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 421 MOT tests, the 2020 Nissan Cube recorded an 83.1% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (7.7% fail rate), the 2020 Cube comes out 9.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.8% of all tests — 9.5 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, wipers and headlamp aim — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 31 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 25.0% versus 11.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 13.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 58 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.3% | 18 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.8% | 16 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.6% | 15 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.6% | 15 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.7% | 7 |
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 | 31 |
| 2 | Wipers | 19 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 14 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 10 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 8 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 22.1% | 93 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.2% | 85 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.5% | 82 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.0% | 38 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.4% | 31 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.7% | 24 |
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 | 81 | 11.1% |
| 60-90k | 163 | 16.0% |
| 90-120k | 115 | 19.1% |
| 120-150k | 44 | 25.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 92 | 13.0% |
| 2022 | 94 | 12.8% |
| 2023 | 100 | 19.0% |
| 2024 | 68 | 19.1% |
| 2025 | 67 | 22.4% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Cube
On a 2020 Cube, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (4.3% 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.
- Brakes (3.8% 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 2020 Nissan Cubes pass their MOT?
83.1% of the 421 2020 Nissan Cube MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Nissan Cube?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.8% of tests, followed by visibility (4.3%).
Does the 2020 Cube get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 30-60k band to 25.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 421 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.