2014 Nissan Leaf — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 19,545 MOT tests analysed for the 2014 Nissan Leaf, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, brakes and tyres. Its pass rate of 76.7% was below the average for small family cars of a similar age (82.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 35.2% in the 150k+ group versus 11.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.2% | 2,390 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.7% | 1,497 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.6% | 1,295 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 1,086 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 785 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.5% | 496 |
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 | 2,085 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 820 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 631 |
| 4 | Wipers | 589 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 570 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 495 |
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 | 27.2% | 5,313 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.0% | 5,276 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.8% | 4,655 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.0% | 1,560 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 703 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.1% | 608 |
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 | 1,669 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 8,867 | 20.5% |
| 60-90k | 6,688 | 27.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,784 | 30.4% |
| 120-150k | 407 | 31.2% |
| 150k+ | 128 | 35.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Electric | 11,614 | 21.3% |
| ELECTRIC | 7,929 | 26.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,774 | 18.3% |
| 2022 | 3,905 | 21.5% |
| 2023 | 3,937 | 23.8% |
| 2024 | 4,008 | 26.1% |
| 2025 | 3,921 | 26.6% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Leaf
Before buying a 2014 Nissan Leaf, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 12.2% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (12.2% 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 (7.7% 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 (6.6% 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 2014 Nissan Leafs pass their MOT?
76.7% of the 19,545 2014 Nissan Leaf MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Nissan Leaf?
Suspension, recorded in 12.2% of tests, followed by brakes (7.7%).
Does the 2014 Leaf get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 35.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,545 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.