2021 Nissan Cube — MOT failures & pass rate
274 MOT tests on the 2021 Nissan Cube are in this dataset, and 82.5% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 6.8% of the time, so this is 10.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and seat belts & restraints.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.5% of tests against 4.4% 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 21 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 21.8% versus 14.8%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 48 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.4% | 12 |
| 3 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.0% | 11 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.0% | 11 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 7 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.2% | 6 |
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 | 21 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 16 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 8 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 7 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 6 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 6 |
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 | 23.0% | 63 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.9% | 49 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.1% | 36 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.3% | 20 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.9% | 19 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.2% | 17 |
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 | 88 | 14.8% |
| 60-90k | 102 | 15.7% |
| 90-120k | 55 | 21.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 61 | 14.8% |
| 2022 | 57 | 10.5% |
| 2023 | 66 | 19.7% |
| 2024 | 46 | 21.7% |
| 2025 | 44 | 22.7% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Cube
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.4% 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.
- Seat belts & restraints (4.0% of tests): Belt damage or faulty pretensioners — usually straightforward but safety-critical. Typical repair: £50–£300.
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 2021 Nissan Cubes pass their MOT?
82.5% of the 274 2021 Nissan Cube MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Nissan Cube?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.5% of tests, followed by brakes (4.4%).
Does the 2021 Cube get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.8% in the 30-60k band to 21.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 274 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.