1992 Nissan Figaro — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1992 Nissan Figaro passed 75.9% of its 262 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (22.6% fail rate), the 1992 Figaro comes out 1.5pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.1% of all tests — 5.3 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, prescribed areas and rear fog lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 19 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 25.6% in the 30-60k band and 46.9% in the 150k+ band, a 21.2-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 22.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 37 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 23 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.0% | 21 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.2% | 19 |
| 5 | Suspension | 6.5% | 17 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 12 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 19 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 15 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 15 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 14 |
| 5 | Washers | 12 |
| 6 | Steering rack | 11 |
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 | 22.1% | 58 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 21.0% | 55 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.6% | 54 |
| 4 | Steering | 18.3% | 48 |
| 5 | Brakes | 18.3% | 48 |
| 6 | Other defects | 16.0% | 42 |
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 | 39 | 25.6% |
| 60-90k | 110 | 16.4% |
| 90-120k | 47 | 23.4% |
| 120-150k | 32 | 28.1% |
| 150k+ | 32 | 46.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 37 | 24.3% |
| 2022 | 36 | 22.2% |
| 2023 | 30 | 23.3% |
| 2024 | 74 | 21.6% |
| 2025 | 85 | 27.1% |
What to check before buying a 1992 Figaro
On a 1992 Figaro, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.8% 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+.
- Brakes (8.0% 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 1992 Nissan Figaros pass their MOT?
75.9% of the 262 1992 Nissan Figaro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Nissan Figaro?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (8.8%).
Does the 1992 Figaro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.6% in the 30-60k band to 46.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 262 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.