Nissan Interstar + MOT pass rate & common failures
1,700 MOT tests on the Nissan Interstar + (2002–2024) give it a 70.7% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 25.5% of the time, so this is 3.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.2% of tests against 16.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), service brake performance and position lamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 158 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.7% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 37.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.9% in 2021 to 25.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Interstar + model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 132 | 72.0% | 28.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 171 | 67.3% | 32.8% | Brakes |
| 2004 | 224 | 69.6% | 30.4% | Brakes |
| 2005 | 264 | 65.9% | 34.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 221 | 71.0% | 29.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 211 | 67.8% | 32.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 91 | 76.9% | 23.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 154 | 72.1% | 27.9% | Brakes |
| 2010 | 88 | 71.6% | 28.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2022 | 85 | 88.2% | 11.8% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.2% | 326 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.1% | 273 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.5% | 161 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.3% | 142 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.9% | 134 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.2% | 88 |
| 7 | Tyres | 3.9% | 67 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.5% | 42 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 158 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 119 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 114 |
| 4 | Steering rack | 91 |
| 5 | Wipers | 89 |
| 6 | Joints | 80 |
| 7 | Ball joint | 79 |
| 8 | Stop lamp | 77 |
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 | 37.6% | 639 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.1% | 426 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.8% | 371 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.7% | 318 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 16.5% | 281 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.2% | 259 |
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 | 73 | 13.7% |
| 30-60k | 109 | 13.8% |
| 60-90k | 257 | 28.0% |
| 90-120k | 339 | 33.6% |
| 120-150k | 444 | 32.9% |
| 150k+ | 461 | 29.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 360 | 28.9% |
| 2022 | 346 | 31.2% |
| 2023 | 322 | 30.1% |
| 2024 | 311 | 31.5% |
| 2025 | 361 | 25.5% |
What to check before buying a Nissan Interstar +
- Lighting & signalling (19.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.1% 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.
- Suspension (9.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Nissan Interstar +?
70.7% of the 1,700 Nissan Interstar + MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 29.3% fail rate, across model years 2002–2024.
What does the Nissan Interstar + most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.2% of tests, then brakes (16.1%).
How much does mileage affect Interstar + MOT results?
Fail rates run at 13.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 29.7% for 150k+, a 16.0-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,700 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.