2017 Nissan Nv400 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 393 MOT tests, the 2017 Nissan Nv400 recorded an 83.7% pass rate. That is 1.5 percentage points better than vans of a similar age, which fail at 17.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.5% of tests against 6.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and malfunction indicator lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 19 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2017 Nv400 fails 9.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 8.5% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.8 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 21.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 53 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.6% | 26 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 16 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.1% | 16 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.3% | 13 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.0% | 4 |
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 | 19 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 17 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 16 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 14 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 13 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 12 |
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 | 21.9% | 86 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.6% | 81 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 40 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.1% | 24 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.8% | 19 |
| 6 | Suspension | 4.3% | 17 |
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 | 54 | 9.3% |
| 30-60k | 136 | 14.0% |
| 60-90k | 109 | 22.9% |
| 90-120k | 47 | 8.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 83 | 15.7% |
| 2022 | 71 | 12.7% |
| 2023 | 78 | 15.4% |
| 2024 | 80 | 16.3% |
| 2025 | 81 | 21.0% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Nv400
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.6% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (4.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Nv400s pass their MOT?
83.7% of the 393 2017 Nissan Nv400 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Nissan Nv400?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by brakes (6.6%).
Does the 2017 Nv400 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.3% in the 0-30k band to 8.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 393 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.