Nissan Nv200 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Nissan Nv200 appears in 168,424 MOT tests spanning model years 2007–2022, and 75.0% of them passed. Vans of a similar age fail 22.3% of the time, so this is 2.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
Best and worst Nv200 years
Ranked across Nv200 years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Build year matters more than the headline suggests: 2017 cars pass 81.1% of the time while 2012 cars manage 71.0%, a 10.1-point spread.
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.3% of tests against 14.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, ball joint and linkage ball joints — position lamp alone was recorded 17,904 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.9% versus 11.9%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 10.2% fail against 26.2% for diesel, a 16.0-point gap across 152,658 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 26.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Nv200 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 928 | 74.0% | 26.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 8,062 | 72.1% | 27.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 15,008 | 71.4% | 28.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 20,154 | 71.0% | 29.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 26,558 | 71.8% | 28.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 19,952 | 73.3% | 26.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 26,853 | 75.3% | 24.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2016 | 20,790 | 78.3% | 21.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 13,860 | 81.1% | 18.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2018 | 10,883 | 80.9% | 19.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2019 | 4,027 | 81.0% | 19.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 581 | 85.7% | 14.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2021 | 756 | 89.8% | 10.2% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.3% | 32,525 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.3% | 24,085 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.1% | 10,330 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.0% | 10,186 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.9% | 9,951 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 5,064 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.2% | 3,650 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.7% | 2,783 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 17,904 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 15,639 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joints | 8,270 |
| 4 | Wipers | 7,756 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 7,702 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 7,410 |
| 7 | Headlamp | 7,396 |
| 8 | Tread depth | 6,989 |
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 | 26.1% | 43,987 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.2% | 40,710 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.4% | 29,249 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 28,902 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.3% | 13,916 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.9% | 11,580 |
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 | 15,233 | 11.9% |
| 30-60k | 32,937 | 19.8% |
| 60-90k | 41,578 | 25.6% |
| 90-120k | 36,930 | 29.1% |
| 120-150k | 23,427 | 29.8% |
| 150k+ | 18,281 | 29.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 151,075 | 26.2% |
| Electric | 15,766 | 15.7% |
| Petrol | 1,583 | 10.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 33,328 | 23.1% |
| 2022 | 34,262 | 24.0% |
| 2023 | 34,332 | 25.3% |
| 2024 | 33,739 | 26.2% |
| 2025 | 32,763 | 26.6% |
What to check before buying a Nissan Nv200
- Lighting & signalling (19.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.3% 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.
- Brakes (6.1% 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.
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 Nv200?
75.0% of the 168,424 Nissan Nv200 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 25.1% fail rate, across model years 2007–2022.
What does the Nissan Nv200 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.3% of tests, then suspension (14.3%).
Which Nv200 years are best and worst for MOT results?
2017 has the best pass rate at 81.1% and 2012 the weakest at 71.0%, from 13,860 and 20,154 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Nv200 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 11.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 29.9% for 150k+, a 18.0-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Nv200 more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 10.2% of the time against 26.2% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 168,424 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.