2018 Nissan Nv200 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Nissan Nv200 passed 80.9% of its 10,883 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail 16.2% of the time, so this is 2.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.1% of all tests — 11.1 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, wipers and headlamp — position lamp alone was recorded 1,196 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.1% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 10.1pp more often than electric ones (20.2% vs 10.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.1% | 1,975 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.0% | 762 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.5% | 598 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.4% | 590 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.4% | 476 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 233 |
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 | 1,196 |
| 2 | Wipers | 575 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 500 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 480 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 468 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 395 |
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 | 19.9% | 2,167 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.8% | 1,396 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.3% | 1,228 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 1,165 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.3% | 685 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.0% | 437 |
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 | 2,787 | 10.6% |
| 30-60k | 3,891 | 18.8% |
| 60-90k | 2,579 | 23.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,103 | 28.0% |
| 120-150k | 361 | 27.2% |
| 150k+ | 161 | 21.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,758 | 20.2% |
| Electric | 929 | 10.1% |
| Petrol | 196 | 4.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,087 | 14.9% |
| 2022 | 2,168 | 16.7% |
| 2023 | 2,237 | 19.0% |
| 2024 | 2,193 | 20.9% |
| 2025 | 2,198 | 23.6% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Nv200
On a 2018 Nv200, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.0% 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.
- Visibility (5.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2018 Nissan Nv200s pass their MOT?
80.9% of the 10,883 2018 Nissan Nv200 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Nissan Nv200?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.1% of tests, followed by suspension (7.0%).
Does the 2018 Nv200 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.6% in the 0-30k band to 21.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,883 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.