2018 Nissan Nv300 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Nissan Nv300 passed 82.0% of its 2,396 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (11.0% fail rate), the 2018 Nv300 comes out 7.0pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.0%) and lighting & signalling (7.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, coil spring and malfunction indicator lamp — track rod end alone was recorded 92 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.6% versus 8.0%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.0% | 215 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 185 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.2% | 100 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.7% | 88 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 86 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.3% | 78 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 92 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 79 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 78 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 76 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joints | 72 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 67 |
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 | 20.3% | 486 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.0% | 431 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.9% | 310 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.1% | 170 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.0% | 167 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.0% | 143 |
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 | 375 | 8.0% |
| 30-60k | 842 | 17.3% |
| 60-90k | 642 | 20.4% |
| 90-120k | 337 | 21.7% |
| 120-150k | 128 | 25.8% |
| 150k+ | 69 | 24.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 489 | 15.1% |
| 2022 | 499 | 18.0% |
| 2023 | 487 | 17.9% |
| 2024 | 456 | 18.2% |
| 2025 | 465 | 20.6% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Nv300
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 9.0% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (9.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.2% 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 2018 Nissan Nv300s pass their MOT?
82.0% of the 2,396 2018 Nissan Nv300 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Nissan Nv300?
Suspension, recorded in 9.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.7%).
Does the 2018 Nv300 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.0% in the 0-30k band to 24.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,396 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.