2002 Nissan Figaro — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Nissan Figaro passed 72.1% of its 330 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (27.5% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.4%) and body, structure & corrosion (10.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, prescribed areas and steering rack — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 35 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 39.3% versus 22.6%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 27.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.6% in 2021 to 26.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 41 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.3% | 34 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.7% | 32 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.1% | 30 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.3% | 24 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.4% | 21 |
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 | 35 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 30 |
| 3 | Steering rack | 20 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 20 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 17 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 17 |
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 | 27.3% | 90 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.0% | 76 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 19.1% | 63 |
| 4 | Suspension | 16.7% | 55 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.4% | 54 |
| 6 | Steering | 13.9% | 46 |
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 | 102 | 22.6% |
| 90-120k | 89 | 28.1% |
| 120-150k | 55 | 27.3% |
| 150k+ | 56 | 39.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 84 | 28.6% |
| 2022 | 78 | 28.2% |
| 2023 | 71 | 28.2% |
| 2024 | 48 | 27.1% |
| 2025 | 49 | 26.5% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Figaro
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.3% 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 (9.7% 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 2002 Nissan Figaros pass their MOT?
72.1% of the 330 2002 Nissan Figaro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Nissan Figaro?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.4% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (10.3%).
Does the 2002 Figaro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.6% in the 60-90k band to 39.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 330 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.