2021 Nissan Nv250 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Nissan Nv250 passed 82.2% of its 3,569 recorded MOT tests. That is 9.2 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 8.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.5% of tests against 6.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, brake pads and tread depth — stop lamp alone was recorded 384 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.8% in the 0-30k band and 18.8% in the 120-150k band, a 5.0-point spread.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 20.8% in 2023 to 17.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.5% | 589 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.7% | 240 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.5% | 161 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.4% | 156 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 101 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 31 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 384 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 175 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 155 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 153 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 142 |
| 6 | Wipers | 105 |
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 | 25.3% | 901 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.6% | 736 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 340 |
| 4 | Visibility | 9.2% | 329 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.9% | 174 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.3% | 48 |
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 | 828 | 13.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,720 | 18.0% |
| 60-90k | 757 | 20.6% |
| 90-120k | 202 | 22.3% |
| 120-150k | 48 | 18.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 48 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 1,770 | 17.7% |
| 2025 | 1,745 | 17.9% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Nv250
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.7% 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.
- Brakes (4.5% 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 2021 Nissan Nv250s pass their MOT?
82.2% of the 3,569 2021 Nissan Nv250 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Nissan Nv250?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.5% of tests, followed by tyres (6.7%).
Does the 2021 Nv250 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.8% in the 0-30k band to 18.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,569 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.