2018 Nissan Nv400 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 324 MOT tests, the 2018 Nissan Nv400 recorded an 81.2% pass rate. Against vans of a similar age (16.4% fail rate), the 2018 Nv400 comes out 2.5pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.7% of all tests — 4.9 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, position lamp and wipers — brake pads alone was recorded 15 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.1% in the 0-30k band and 33.3% in the 120-150k band, a 18.2-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 23.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 41 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.7% | 25 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.2% | 20 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.3% | 17 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 13 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 9 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 15 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 14 |
| 3 | Wipers | 14 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 12 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 10 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 9 |
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 | 23.2% | 75 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.7% | 67 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 7.4% | 24 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.4% | 24 |
| 5 | Suspension | 6.5% | 21 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 9 |
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 | 53 | 15.1% |
| 30-60k | 84 | 19.1% |
| 60-90k | 76 | 13.2% |
| 90-120k | 62 | 19.4% |
| 120-150k | 36 | 33.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 61 | 21.3% |
| 2022 | 56 | 14.3% |
| 2023 | 62 | 12.9% |
| 2024 | 74 | 20.3% |
| 2025 | 71 | 23.9% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Nv400
On a 2018 Nv400, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.7% 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 (6.2% 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 Nv400s pass their MOT?
81.2% of the 324 2018 Nissan Nv400 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Nissan Nv400?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.7% of tests, followed by brakes (7.7%).
Does the 2018 Nv400 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.1% in the 0-30k band to 33.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 324 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.