2018 Nissan Leaf — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Nissan Leaf passed 90.4% of its 28,120 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 10.4%, so the 2018 Leaf sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.9%) and visibility (3.1%) 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 878 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.0% versus 5.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.9% | 1,372 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.1% | 876 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.3% | 649 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 559 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.9% | 534 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.3% | 76 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 878 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 682 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 468 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 318 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 264 |
| 6 | Washers | 237 |
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 | 21.6% | 6,064 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.8% | 4,147 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.2% | 1,733 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.9% | 1,644 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 1,035 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.1% | 320 |
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 | 10,616 | 5.1% |
| 30-60k | 11,597 | 10.2% |
| 60-90k | 3,976 | 15.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,301 | 19.3% |
| 120-150k | 484 | 19.6% |
| 150k+ | 140 | 20.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,678 | 5.5% |
| 2022 | 5,596 | 7.2% |
| 2023 | 5,611 | 9.4% |
| 2024 | 5,581 | 11.4% |
| 2025 | 5,654 | 14.5% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Leaf
On a 2018 Leaf, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.9% 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 (3.1% 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.
- Suspension (2.3% 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.
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 2018 Nissan Leafs pass their MOT?
90.4% of the 28,120 2018 Nissan Leaf MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Nissan Leaf?
Tyres, recorded in 4.9% of tests, followed by visibility (3.1%).
Does the 2018 Leaf get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.1% in the 0-30k band to 20.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,120 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.