2021 Nissan Navara — MOT failures & pass rate
15,564 MOT tests on the 2021 Nissan Navara are in this dataset, and 88.4% of them passed. That is effectively the same as pick-up trucks of a similar age (11.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.6%) and brakes (3.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 456 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 17.9% versus 7.8%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 15.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.2% of tests failed in 2023 against 12.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.6% | 709 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.9% | 606 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.7% | 424 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 418 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.3% | 362 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 273 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 456 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 406 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 390 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 374 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 337 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 259 |
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 | 15.7% | 2,448 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.1% | 2,201 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 733 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.4% | 686 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.1% | 645 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 473 |
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 | 3,873 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 7,349 | 12.2% |
| 60-90k | 3,223 | 13.5% |
| 90-120k | 940 | 15.7% |
| 120-150k | 140 | 15.0% |
| 150k+ | 39 | 17.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 170 | 8.2% |
| 2024 | 7,667 | 10.9% |
| 2025 | 7,714 | 12.4% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Navara
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 4.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (4.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.9% 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.
- Tyres (2.7% 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.
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 Navaras pass their MOT?
88.4% of the 15,564 2021 Nissan Navara MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Nissan Navara?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.6% of tests, followed by brakes (3.9%).
Does the 2021 Navara get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 17.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,564 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.