2012 Nissan Leaf — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,014 MOT tests, the 2012 Nissan Leaf recorded a 76.0% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 21.2% of the time, so this is 2.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 14.0% of all tests — 7.3 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, track rod end and linkage ball joints — ball joint alone was recorded 344 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.0% versus 13.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 29.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.0% | 421 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.7% | 202 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.6% | 170 |
| 4 | Steering | 5.2% | 156 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 131 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 107 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 344 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 188 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joints | 112 |
| 4 | Wipers | 81 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 79 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 76 |
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 | 29.7% | 894 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.3% | 794 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.0% | 724 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.1% | 244 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.1% | 215 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 130 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 307 | 13.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,501 | 22.8% |
| 60-90k | 921 | 27.7% |
| 90-120k | 252 | 30.6% |
| 120-150k | 30 | 30.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 592 | 19.9% |
| 2022 | 640 | 24.2% |
| 2023 | 628 | 23.9% |
| 2024 | 591 | 25.6% |
| 2025 | 563 | 26.6% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Leaf
On a 2012 Leaf, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (14.0% 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 (6.7% 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.
- Tyres (5.6% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2012 Nissan Leafs pass their MOT?
76.0% of the 3,014 2012 Nissan Leaf MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Nissan Leaf?
Suspension, recorded in 14.0% of tests, followed by brakes (6.7%).
Does the 2012 Leaf get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.0% in the 0-30k band to 30.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,014 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.