Nissan Nv400 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 11 model years and 3,493 tests, the Nissan Nv400 passes its MOT 79.2% of the time. Vans of a similar age fail at 19.8%, so the Nv400 sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.4% of tests against 10.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 180 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.4% once past 150k — 2.0× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 25.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Nv400 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 203 | 71.4% | 28.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 140 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 352 | 74.2% | 25.9% | Brakes |
| 2015 | 718 | 79.0% | 21.0% | Brakes |
| 2016 | 962 | 79.5% | 20.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 393 | 83.7% | 16.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2018 | 324 | 81.2% | 18.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2019 | 187 | 82.3% | 17.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 114 | 86.8% | 13.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2021 | 88 | 78.4% | 21.6% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 502 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.3% | 360 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.6% | 197 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.9% | 136 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.6% | 127 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.8% | 99 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 87 |
| 8 | Steering | 0.7% | 26 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 180 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 170 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 141 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 121 |
| 5 | Wipers | 115 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 114 |
| 7 | Service brake performance | 113 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 104 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 25.8% | 900 |
| 2 | Tyres | 19.2% | 672 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 451 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.6% | 335 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.9% | 275 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.7% | 164 |
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 | 334 | 13.2% |
| 30-60k | 753 | 16.9% |
| 60-90k | 871 | 20.4% |
| 90-120k | 672 | 22.5% |
| 120-150k | 400 | 25.8% |
| 150k+ | 462 | 26.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 589 | 18.7% |
| 2022 | 675 | 21.6% |
| 2023 | 692 | 19.4% |
| 2024 | 795 | 21.9% |
| 2025 | 742 | 21.7% |
What to check before buying a Nissan Nv400
- Lighting & signalling (14.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.3% 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.
- Visibility (5.6% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Nissan Nv400?
79.2% of the 3,493 Nissan Nv400 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 20.8% fail rate, across model years 2011–2021.
What does the Nissan Nv400 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.4% of tests, then brakes (10.3%).
How much does mileage affect Nv400 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 13.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 26.4% for 150k+, a 13.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,493 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.