2019 Nissan Leaf — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 23,607 MOT tests, the 2019 Nissan Leaf recorded a 91.7% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 9.5% of the time, so this is 1.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.7%) and visibility (2.4%) 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 567 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.2% once past 150k — 4.2× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 4.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.7% | 1,098 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.4% | 569 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 504 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.6% | 378 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.3% | 302 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 63 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 567 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 499 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 301 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 223 |
| 5 | Washers | 161 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 150 |
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 | 20.8% | 4,911 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.1% | 2,861 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.5% | 1,307 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.1% | 965 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 805 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.1% | 255 |
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 | 11,102 | 4.8% |
| 30-60k | 8,525 | 10.1% |
| 60-90k | 2,558 | 12.9% |
| 90-120k | 977 | 16.3% |
| 120-150k | 330 | 17.0% |
| 150k+ | 114 | 20.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,111 | 4.6% |
| 2022 | 5,730 | 5.4% |
| 2023 | 5,625 | 7.1% |
| 2024 | 5,541 | 9.8% |
| 2025 | 5,600 | 11.8% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Leaf
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.7% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.7% 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 (2.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2019 Nissan Leafs pass their MOT?
91.7% of the 23,607 2019 Nissan Leaf MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Nissan Leaf?
Tyres, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by visibility (2.4%).
Does the 2019 Leaf get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.8% in the 0-30k band to 20.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 23,607 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.