2002 Nissan Navara — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 890 MOT tests, the 2002 Nissan Navara recorded a 71.2% pass rate. Pick-up trucks of a similar age fail at 28.8%, so the 2002 Navara sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.0%) and brakes (16.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and chassis condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 99 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.6% versus 24.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 44.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.1% in 2021 to 28.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 151 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.9% | 150 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 120 |
| 4 | Suspension | 11.5% | 102 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.8% | 78 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.5% | 31 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 99 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 92 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 74 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 71 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 68 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 57 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 44.2% | 393 |
| 2 | Brakes | 43.9% | 391 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 33.0% | 294 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 23.2% | 206 |
| 5 | Tyres | 17.6% | 157 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.9% | 115 |
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 | 41 | 24.4% |
| 30-60k | 31 | 16.1% |
| 60-90k | 119 | 36.1% |
| 90-120k | 240 | 27.1% |
| 120-150k | 190 | 31.1% |
| 150k+ | 196 | 28.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 290 | 33.1% |
| 2022 | 219 | 27.9% |
| 2023 | 160 | 25.0% |
| 2024 | 126 | 25.4% |
| 2025 | 95 | 28.4% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Navara
On a 2002 Navara, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.9% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.5% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2002 Nissan Navaras pass their MOT?
71.2% of the 890 2002 Nissan Navara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Nissan Navara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.0% of tests, followed by brakes (16.9%).
Does the 2002 Navara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.4% in the 0-30k band to 28.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 890 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.