2017 Nissan Nv200 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Nissan Nv200 passed 81.1% of its 13,860 recorded MOT tests. Against vans of a similar age (17.8% fail rate), the 2017 Nv200 comes out 1.1pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.3% of tests against 7.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, wipers and ball joint — position lamp alone was recorded 1,132 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.9% versus 11.6%.
The electric cars hold up better: 13.2% fail against 21.7% for diesel, a 8.5-point gap across 13,710 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 2,115 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.6% | 1,058 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.7% | 794 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.3% | 728 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.5% | 618 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 385 |
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 | 1,132 |
| 2 | Wipers | 679 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 575 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 570 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 505 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 436 |
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 | 22.4% | 3,111 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.6% | 1,887 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.8% | 1,777 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 1,527 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.5% | 898 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.8% | 664 |
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 | 4,001 | 11.6% |
| 30-60k | 4,337 | 17.8% |
| 60-90k | 2,948 | 23.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,526 | 26.5% |
| 120-150k | 643 | 27.4% |
| 150k+ | 405 | 27.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,456 | 21.7% |
| Electric | 4,254 | 13.2% |
| Petrol | 150 | 5.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,725 | 15.7% |
| 2022 | 2,736 | 17.0% |
| 2023 | 2,808 | 19.2% |
| 2024 | 2,808 | 21.1% |
| 2025 | 2,783 | 21.3% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Nv200
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.6% 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 (5.7% 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 2017 Nissan Nv200s pass their MOT?
81.1% of the 13,860 2017 Nissan Nv200 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Nissan Nv200?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.3% of tests, followed by suspension (7.6%).
Does the 2017 Nv200 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.6% in the 0-30k band to 27.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,860 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.