1994 Nissan Patrol — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 260 MOT tests, the 1994 Nissan Patrol recorded an 80.8% pass rate. That is 4.4 percentage points better than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 23.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.8%) and brakes (8.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, integral vehicle structure condition and chassis condition — service brake performance alone was recorded 16 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 28.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.8% in 2021 to 14.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 28 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.5% | 22 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 22 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.4% | 14 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.0% | 13 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.5% | 9 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 16 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 16 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 14 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 12 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 10 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 10 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 28.5% | 74 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.8% | 54 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.2% | 50 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.9% | 31 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.7% | 20 |
| 6 | Tyres | 7.3% | 19 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 90-120k | 83 | 20.5% |
| 150k+ | 125 | 20.0% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 213 | 20.7% |
| Petrol | 47 | 12.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 57 | 22.8% |
| 2022 | 55 | 21.8% |
| 2023 | 50 | 16.0% |
| 2024 | 51 | 19.6% |
| 2025 | 47 | 14.9% |
What to check before buying a 1994 Patrol
On a 1994 Patrol, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.5% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.5% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1994 Nissan Patrols pass their MOT?
80.8% of the 260 1994 Nissan Patrol MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1994 Nissan Patrol?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.8% of tests, followed by brakes (8.5%).
Does the 1994 Patrol get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.5% in the 90-120k band to 20.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 260 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.