2023 Nissan Leaf — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 251 MOT tests, the 2023 Nissan Leaf recorded a 95.6% pass rate. That is 1.4 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 5.8%. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.0%) and brakes (1.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp aim and rear fog lamp — service brake performance alone was recorded 4 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 10.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.0% | 5 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.6% | 4 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 3 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.8% | 2 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.4% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 4 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 2 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 2 |
| 5 | Driver's view | 1 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 1 |
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 | 10.0% | 25 |
| 2 | Other defects | 2.4% | 6 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.6% | 4 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.8% | 2 |
| 5 | Steering | 0.8% | 2 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.4% | 1 |
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 | 196 | 4.1% |
| 30-60k | 49 | 6.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 41 | 2.4% |
| 2025 | 204 | 4.9% |
What to check before buying a 2023 Leaf
On a 2023 Leaf, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 2.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (2.0% 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.
- Brakes (1.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.2% 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 2023 Nissan Leafs pass their MOT?
95.6% of the 251 2023 Nissan Leaf MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Nissan Leaf?
Tyres, recorded in 2.0% of tests, followed by brakes (1.6%).
Does the 2023 Leaf get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.1% in the 0-30k band to 6.1% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 251 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.