2012 Nissan Gt R — MOT failures & pass rate
814 MOT tests on the 2012 Nissan Gt R are in this dataset, and 95.5% of them passed. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (16.2% fail rate), the 2012 Gt R comes out 11.6pp better. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (2.3%) and tyres (1.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, catalytic converter and emissions not tested — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 12 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2012 Gt R fails 3.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.0% at 60-90k, a spread of only 3.9 points.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 5.8% in 2021 to 3.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 19 |
| 2 | Tyres | 1.5% | 12 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.0% | 8 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 8 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 7 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.9% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 12 |
| 2 | Catalytic converter | 9 |
| 3 | Emissions not tested | 7 |
| 4 | Washers | 6 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 5 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 4 |
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 | 7.7% | 63 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.2% | 42 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.4% | 36 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.6% | 13 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.4% | 11 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 6 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 225 | 3.1% |
| 30-60k | 427 | 3.8% |
| 60-90k | 142 | 7.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 174 | 5.8% |
| 2022 | 168 | 4.2% |
| 2023 | 166 | 3.6% |
| 2024 | 152 | 5.9% |
| 2025 | 154 | 3.3% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Gt R
On a 2012 Gt R, emissions & environmental is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 2.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Emissions & environmental (2.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Tyres (1.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (1.0% 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 2012 Nissan Gt Rs pass their MOT?
95.5% of the 814 2012 Nissan Gt R MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Nissan Gt R?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 2.3% of tests, followed by tyres (1.5%).
Does the 2012 Gt R get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.1% in the 0-30k band to 7.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 814 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.