2003 Nissan Kubistar — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 350 MOT tests, the 2003 Nissan Kubistar recorded a 71.1% pass rate. That is 1.2 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.7%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 17.1% of tests against 13.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are joints, coil spring and steering rack — joints alone was recorded 27 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2003 Kubistar fails 32.4% of the time in the 60-90k band and 33.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.0 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 36.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 27.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.1% | 60 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 46 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.0% | 42 |
| 4 | Steering | 10.3% | 36 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.4% | 33 |
| 6 | Visibility | 8.9% | 31 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 27 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 24 |
| 3 | Steering rack | 21 |
| 4 | Washers | 19 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 18 |
| 6 | Position 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 | Tyres | 36.6% | 128 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.6% | 121 |
| 3 | Brakes | 32.6% | 114 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 22.3% | 78 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 20.9% | 73 |
| 6 | Other defects | 18.0% | 63 |
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 | 68 | 32.4% |
| 90-120k | 138 | 24.6% |
| 120-150k | 69 | 30.4% |
| 150k+ | 48 | 33.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 92 | 27.2% |
| 2022 | 85 | 27.1% |
| 2023 | 68 | 27.9% |
| 2024 | 60 | 33.3% |
| 2025 | 45 | 31.1% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Kubistar
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 17.1% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (17.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (13.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.0% 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 2003 Nissan Kubistars pass their MOT?
71.1% of the 350 2003 Nissan Kubistar MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Nissan Kubistar?
Suspension, recorded in 17.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.1%).
Does the 2003 Kubistar get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 32.4% in the 60-90k band to 33.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 350 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.