2020 Nissan Leaf — MOT failures & pass rate
27,085 MOT tests on the 2020 Nissan Leaf are in this dataset, and 92.0% of them passed. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (8.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.9%) and visibility (2.5%) 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 headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 672 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 14.8% versus 5.6%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 3.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.9% | 1,318 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.5% | 682 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 423 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.3% | 339 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.1% | 309 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.2% | 65 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 672 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 489 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 270 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 190 |
| 5 | Washers | 189 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 132 |
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 | 21.1% | 5,729 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.3% | 3,318 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.4% | 1,467 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.1% | 1,101 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 906 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.1% | 310 |
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 | 14,573 | 5.6% |
| 30-60k | 9,608 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,923 | 12.8% |
| 90-120k | 630 | 14.4% |
| 120-150k | 243 | 13.2% |
| 150k+ | 108 | 14.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 539 | 3.0% |
| 2022 | 1,068 | 3.5% |
| 2023 | 8,475 | 6.1% |
| 2024 | 8,433 | 8.0% |
| 2025 | 8,570 | 10.7% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Leaf
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.9% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (2.5% 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 (1.6% 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 2020 Nissan Leafs pass their MOT?
92.0% of the 27,085 2020 Nissan Leaf MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Nissan Leaf?
Tyres, recorded in 4.9% of tests, followed by visibility (2.5%).
Does the 2020 Leaf get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.6% in the 0-30k band to 14.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 27,085 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.