2007 Nissan Kubistar — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Nissan Kubistar passed 69.2% of its 1,457 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (26.8% fail rate), the 2007 Kubistar comes out 4.0pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.3% of tests against 13.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, steering rack and wipers — position lamp alone was recorded 109 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 32.0% versus 26.1%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.3% | 281 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.2% | 192 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.1% | 176 |
| 4 | Steering | 9.8% | 143 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.8% | 113 |
| 6 | Tyres | 7.5% | 110 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 109 |
| 2 | Steering rack | 85 |
| 3 | Wipers | 84 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 83 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 79 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 75 |
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 | 33.6% | 489 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.2% | 455 |
| 3 | Other defects | 25.4% | 370 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 24.8% | 361 |
| 5 | Suspension | 24.3% | 354 |
| 6 | Visibility | 11.7% | 171 |
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 | 69 | 26.1% |
| 60-90k | 243 | 26.3% |
| 90-120k | 329 | 31.6% |
| 120-150k | 457 | 33.5% |
| 150k+ | 334 | 32.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 360 | 29.7% |
| 2022 | 341 | 33.1% |
| 2023 | 301 | 28.9% |
| 2024 | 256 | 32.8% |
| 2025 | 199 | 29.1% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Kubistar
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.2% 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.
- Brakes (12.1% 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.
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 2007 Nissan Kubistars pass their MOT?
69.2% of the 1,457 2007 Nissan Kubistar MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Nissan Kubistar?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.3% of tests, followed by suspension (13.2%).
Does the 2007 Kubistar get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.1% in the 30-60k band to 32.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,457 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.