2004 Nissan Kubistar — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,668 MOT tests, the 2004 Nissan Kubistar recorded a 66.8% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 27.7% of the time, so this is 5.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (17.9%) and lighting & signalling (16.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, position lamp and track rod end — coil spring alone was recorded 106 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 29.6% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 35.5% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 35.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.6% in 2021 to 32.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.9% | 299 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.1% | 268 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.5% | 225 |
| 4 | Steering | 11.5% | 192 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 142 |
| 6 | Visibility | 8.0% | 134 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 106 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 106 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 102 |
| 4 | Steering rack | 101 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 100 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 90 |
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 | 35.3% | 588 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.9% | 515 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.8% | 514 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 24.8% | 413 |
| 5 | Other defects | 20.0% | 334 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 266 |
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 | 81 | 29.6% |
| 60-90k | 272 | 33.5% |
| 90-120k | 544 | 32.5% |
| 120-150k | 347 | 32.3% |
| 150k+ | 411 | 35.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,597 | 33.4% |
| Petrol | 71 | 28.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 485 | 34.6% |
| 2022 | 416 | 33.4% |
| 2023 | 333 | 32.4% |
| 2024 | 242 | 31.0% |
| 2025 | 192 | 32.8% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Kubistar
On a 2004 Kubistar, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (17.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (16.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.5% 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 2004 Nissan Kubistars pass their MOT?
66.8% of the 1,668 2004 Nissan Kubistar MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Nissan Kubistar?
Suspension, recorded in 17.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.1%).
Does the 2004 Kubistar get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.6% in the 30-60k band to 35.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,668 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.