2013 Nissan Nv200 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 26,558 MOT tests, the 2013 Nissan Nv200 recorded a 71.8% pass rate. That is 3.9 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 24.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (20.7%) and suspension (18.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, position lamp and linkage ball joints — ball joint alone was recorded 3,170 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.8% versus 15.2%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.7% | 5,487 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.1% | 4,810 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.5% | 1,714 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.3% | 1,659 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.9% | 1,570 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 1,211 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 3,170 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 2,949 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joints | 1,804 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 1,495 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,317 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 1,273 |
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 | 32.0% | 8,511 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.8% | 6,581 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 18.5% | 4,919 |
| 4 | Brakes | 18.2% | 4,824 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.8% | 2,325 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.1% | 2,139 |
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 | 348 | 15.2% |
| 30-60k | 3,162 | 23.1% |
| 60-90k | 6,756 | 27.0% |
| 90-120k | 7,449 | 29.7% |
| 120-150k | 5,018 | 30.3% |
| 150k+ | 3,822 | 29.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 26,497 | 28.2% |
| Petrol | 61 | 4.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,590 | 27.9% |
| 2022 | 5,484 | 27.5% |
| 2023 | 5,347 | 27.8% |
| 2024 | 5,238 | 29.3% |
| 2025 | 4,899 | 28.4% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Nv200
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (18.1% 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 (6.5% 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
How many 2013 Nissan Nv200s pass their MOT?
71.8% of the 26,558 2013 Nissan Nv200 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Nissan Nv200?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.7% of tests, followed by suspension (18.1%).
Does the 2013 Nv200 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.2% in the 0-30k band to 29.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 26,558 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.