2008 Nissan Kubistar — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Nissan Kubistar passed 70.1% of its 1,547 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 26.2% of the time, so this is 3.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and steering.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.6% of all tests — 6.3 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, track rod end and steering rack — position lamp alone was recorded 124 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 33.8% versus 25.2%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 30.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.6% | 287 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.2% | 189 |
| 3 | Steering | 11.4% | 177 |
| 4 | Suspension | 10.9% | 168 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.7% | 103 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.1% | 94 |
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 | 124 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 101 |
| 3 | Steering rack | 93 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 85 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 77 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 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 | 30.7% | 475 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.4% | 470 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.6% | 380 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 23.0% | 356 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.4% | 223 |
| 6 | Visibility | 10.5% | 163 |
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 | 111 | 25.2% |
| 60-90k | 310 | 27.7% |
| 90-120k | 449 | 28.7% |
| 120-150k | 340 | 31.8% |
| 150k+ | 308 | 33.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,517 | 30.0% |
| Petrol | 30 | 23.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 373 | 31.4% |
| 2022 | 358 | 30.2% |
| 2023 | 314 | 28.3% |
| 2024 | 267 | 28.5% |
| 2025 | 235 | 30.6% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Kubistar
On a 2008 Kubistar, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.2% 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.
- Steering (11.4% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
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 2008 Nissan Kubistars pass their MOT?
70.1% of the 1,547 2008 Nissan Kubistar MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Nissan Kubistar?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.6% of tests, followed by brakes (12.2%).
Does the 2008 Kubistar get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.2% in the 30-60k band to 33.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,547 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.