2009 Nissan Figaro — MOT failures & pass rate
873 MOT tests on the 2009 Nissan Figaro are in this dataset, and 72.7% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 25.2% of the time, so this is 2.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.4% of all tests — 3.3 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, catalyst emissions and rear fog lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 80 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 31.7% versus 20.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 117 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.1% | 88 |
| 3 | Visibility | 8.1% | 71 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.9% | 60 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.3% | 55 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 54 |
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 | 80 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 66 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 56 |
| 4 | Washers | 48 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 38 |
| 6 | Wipers | 37 |
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 | 20.3% | 177 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 18.7% | 163 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.6% | 162 |
| 4 | Suspension | 18.4% | 161 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.7% | 137 |
| 6 | Steering | 13.9% | 121 |
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 | 85 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 279 | 25.8% |
| 90-120k | 234 | 30.8% |
| 120-150k | 183 | 27.3% |
| 150k+ | 82 | 31.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 200 | 24.0% |
| 2022 | 226 | 28.8% |
| 2023 | 202 | 30.7% |
| 2024 | 132 | 26.5% |
| 2025 | 113 | 24.8% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Figaro
On a 2009 Figaro, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.1% 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+.
- Visibility (8.1% 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.
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 2009 Nissan Figaros pass their MOT?
72.7% of the 873 2009 Nissan Figaro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Nissan Figaro?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.4% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (10.1%).
Does the 2009 Figaro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 30-60k band to 31.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 873 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.