2017 Nissan Leaf — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Nissan Leaf passed 87.3% of its 28,405 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (11.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.9%) and visibility (4.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and ball joint — wipers alone was recorded 1,042 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.2% in the 0-30k band and 26.1% in the 150k+ band, a 18.8-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.9% | 1,685 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.0% | 1,135 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.5% | 991 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.3% | 925 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 779 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 125 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,042 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 680 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 569 |
| 4 | Washers | 406 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 388 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 323 |
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 | 27.3% | 7,755 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.5% | 6,389 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.2% | 2,908 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.3% | 1,782 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 1,141 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 259 |
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 | 8,275 | 7.2% |
| 30-60k | 14,448 | 12.9% |
| 60-90k | 4,644 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 784 | 21.2% |
| 120-150k | 184 | 28.3% |
| 150k+ | 69 | 26.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,561 | 8.3% |
| 2022 | 5,662 | 10.4% |
| 2023 | 5,630 | 12.2% |
| 2024 | 5,773 | 15.2% |
| 2025 | 5,779 | 17.0% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Leaf
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.9% 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.
- Visibility (4.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Brakes (3.5% 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 2017 Nissan Leafs pass their MOT?
87.3% of the 28,405 2017 Nissan Leaf MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Nissan Leaf?
Tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by visibility (4.0%).
Does the 2017 Leaf get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.2% in the 0-30k band to 26.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,405 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.