Nissan March MOT pass rate & common failures
The Nissan March appears in 1,052 MOT tests spanning model years 1988–2024, and 86.1% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 22.3% of the time, so this is 8.5pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.7% of all tests — 9.0 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rear fog lamp and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 59 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.8% in the 0-30k band and 29.4% in the 120-150k band, a 19.6-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 14.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.3% in 2021 to 13.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every March model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 43 | 74.4% | 25.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 135 | 85.2% | 14.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 161 | 83.2% | 16.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 243 | 90.5% | 9.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 164 | 89.6% | 10.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 62 | 96.8% | 3.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 33 | 81.8% | 18.2% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 144 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.7% | 49 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.2% | 34 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.4% | 25 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.3% | 24 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 13 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 12 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.8% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 59 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 56 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 47 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 37 |
| 5 | Wipers | 37 |
| 6 | Washers | 19 |
| 7 | Tread depth | 18 |
| 8 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 16 |
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 | 14.3% | 150 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.2% | 139 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.2% | 76 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.1% | 75 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.2% | 65 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 29 |
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 | 244 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 486 | 12.1% |
| 60-90k | 213 | 16.4% |
| 90-120k | 59 | 20.3% |
| 120-150k | 34 | 29.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 80 | 21.3% |
| 2022 | 102 | 15.7% |
| 2023 | 207 | 13.5% |
| 2024 | 293 | 12.3% |
| 2025 | 370 | 13.2% |
What to check before buying a Nissan March
- Lighting & signalling (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (4.7% 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 (3.2% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Nissan March?
86.1% of the 1,052 Nissan March MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 13.9% fail rate, across model years 1988–2024.
What does the Nissan March most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.7% of tests, then visibility (4.7%).
How much does mileage affect March MOT results?
Fail rates run at 9.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 29.4% for 120-150k, a 19.6-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,052 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.