2016 Nissan Nv200 — MOT failures & pass rate
20,790 MOT tests on the 2016 Nissan Nv200 are in this dataset, and 78.3% of them passed. Against vans of a similar age (19.5% fail rate), the 2016 Nv200 comes out 2.1pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.5% of all tests — 7.0 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, ball joint and wipers — position lamp alone was recorded 1,994 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.4% in the 0-30k band and 27.9% in the 150k+ band, a 15.5-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 7.3pp more often than electric ones (23.2% vs 15.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 3,647 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.5% | 2,182 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.9% | 1,218 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.5% | 1,137 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 1,097 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 486 |
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 | 1,994 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 1,577 |
| 3 | Wipers | 927 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 911 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 796 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 775 |
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 | 23.1% | 4,806 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.8% | 4,320 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.2% | 3,152 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 2,730 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.9% | 1,428 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.2% | 1,083 |
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 | 3,052 | 12.4% |
| 30-60k | 6,330 | 18.5% |
| 60-90k | 5,441 | 24.2% |
| 90-120k | 3,369 | 27.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,603 | 27.0% |
| 150k+ | 988 | 27.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 16,520 | 23.2% |
| Electric | 4,130 | 15.9% |
| Petrol | 140 | 7.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,083 | 17.0% |
| 2022 | 4,252 | 20.9% |
| 2023 | 4,155 | 21.9% |
| 2024 | 4,146 | 23.5% |
| 2025 | 4,154 | 24.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Nv200
On a 2016 Nv200, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.5% 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.
- Tyres (5.9% 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 2016 Nissan Nv200s pass their MOT?
78.3% of the 20,790 2016 Nissan Nv200 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Nissan Nv200?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.5% of tests, followed by suspension (10.5%).
Does the 2016 Nv200 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.4% in the 0-30k band to 27.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 20,790 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.