2021 Nissan Leaf — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Nissan Leaf passed 92.9% of its 19,918 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail 8.2% of the time, so this is 1.1pp 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 (4.6%) and visibility (2.6%) 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 473 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 11.4% once past 120-150k — 2.0× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 0.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 8.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.6% | 913 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.6% | 515 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 274 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.0% | 198 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 102 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.2% | 36 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 473 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 248 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 180 |
| 4 | Washers | 167 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 71 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 66 |
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 | 19.2% | 3,824 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.8% | 1,751 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.5% | 1,102 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.7% | 743 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.0% | 599 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.0% | 196 |
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 | 12,544 | 5.6% |
| 30-60k | 6,197 | 9.7% |
| 60-90k | 881 | 10.9% |
| 90-120k | 208 | 6.7% |
| 120-150k | 70 | 11.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 33 | 0.0% |
| 2022 | 343 | 1.8% |
| 2023 | 766 | 3.9% |
| 2024 | 9,375 | 6.8% |
| 2025 | 9,401 | 8.0% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Leaf
On a 2021 Leaf, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.6% 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.
- Visibility (2.6% 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 (1.4% 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 2021 Nissan Leafs pass their MOT?
92.9% of the 19,918 2021 Nissan Leaf MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Nissan Leaf?
Tyres, recorded in 4.6% of tests, followed by visibility (2.6%).
Does the 2021 Leaf get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.6% in the 0-30k band to 11.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,918 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.