2002 Nissan D22 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 530 MOT tests, the 2002 Nissan D22 recorded a 71.3% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.5% fail rate), the 2002 D22 comes out 1.2pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, body, structure & corrosion and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (15.5%) and body, structure & corrosion (14.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, chassis condition and component mounting prescribed areas — service brake performance alone was recorded 67 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2002 D22 fails 31.4% of the time in the 60-90k band and 34.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.0 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 40.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.5% | 82 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.7% | 78 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 75 |
| 4 | Suspension | 11.7% | 62 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.4% | 39 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.4% | 18 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 67 |
| 2 | Chassis condition | 65 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 48 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 33 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 31 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 29 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 40.6% | 215 |
| 2 | Suspension | 38.5% | 204 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 33.4% | 177 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 22.1% | 117 |
| 5 | Tyres | 18.1% | 96 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.1% | 64 |
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 | 70 | 31.4% |
| 90-120k | 104 | 28.8% |
| 120-150k | 161 | 23.0% |
| 150k+ | 122 | 34.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 157 | 29.3% |
| 2022 | 126 | 28.6% |
| 2023 | 97 | 28.9% |
| 2024 | 71 | 25.4% |
| 2025 | 79 | 30.4% |
What to check before buying a 2002 D22
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 15.5% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (15.5% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.7% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Lighting & signalling (14.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2002 Nissan D22s pass their MOT?
71.3% of the 530 2002 Nissan D22 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Nissan D22?
Brakes, recorded in 15.5% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (14.7%).
Does the 2002 D22 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 31.4% in the 60-90k band to 34.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 530 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.