2005 Nissan Interstar + — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Nissan Interstar + passed 65.9% of its 264 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 6.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 23.9% of all tests — 3.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), service brake performance and stop lamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 41 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2005 Interstar + fails 30.8% of the time in the 60-90k band and 29.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.7 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 37.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 29.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 35.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 23.9% | 63 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.1% | 53 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.9% | 34 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.7% | 23 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.3% | 22 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.8% | 18 |
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) | 41 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 27 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 22 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 22 |
| 5 | Steering rack | 20 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 20 |
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 | 37.1% | 98 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.7% | 73 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 25.4% | 67 |
| 4 | Tyres | 22.4% | 59 |
| 5 | Other defects | 20.1% | 53 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.4% | 38 |
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 | 52 | 30.8% |
| 90-120k | 78 | 42.3% |
| 120-150k | 68 | 35.3% |
| 150k+ | 55 | 29.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 65 | 29.2% |
| 2022 | 54 | 33.3% |
| 2023 | 61 | 37.7% |
| 2024 | 47 | 36.2% |
| 2025 | 37 | 35.1% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Interstar +
On a 2005 Interstar +, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 23.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (23.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (20.1% 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 (12.9% 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
How many 2005 Nissan Interstar +s pass their MOT?
65.9% of the 264 2005 Nissan Interstar + MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Nissan Interstar +?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.9% of tests, followed by brakes (20.1%).
Does the 2005 Interstar + get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.8% in the 60-90k band to 29.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 264 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.