2014 Nissan Leaf — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Nissan Leaf passed 76.7% of its 19,545 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail 17.5% of the time, so this is 5.8pp 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 12.2% of all tests — 4.6 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, tread depth and rbt (sp) — ball joint alone was recorded 2,085 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 35.2% once past 150k — 3.2× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.3% 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 | 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
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
On a 2014 Leaf, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.