2002 Nissan Pickup — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,018 MOT tests, the 2002 Nissan Pickup recorded a 67.6% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.5% fail rate), the 2002 Pickup comes out 4.9pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (15.9%) and lighting & signalling (15.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, chassis condition and component mounting prescribed areas — service brake performance alone was recorded 113 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2002 Pickup fails 31.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 32.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.8 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.8% in 2021 to 28.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.9% | 162 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 157 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.2% | 145 |
| 4 | Suspension | 13.6% | 138 |
| 5 | Visibility | 9.0% | 92 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.1% | 52 |
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 | 113 |
| 2 | Chassis condition | 98 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 88 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 71 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 70 |
| 6 | Wipers | 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 | Suspension | 37.5% | 382 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.4% | 360 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 30.6% | 312 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.2% | 185 |
| 5 | Tyres | 16.7% | 170 |
| 6 | Steering | 11.6% | 118 |
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 | 41 | 31.7% |
| 30-60k | 51 | 25.5% |
| 60-90k | 191 | 30.4% |
| 90-120k | 260 | 32.7% |
| 120-150k | 226 | 35.4% |
| 150k+ | 191 | 32.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 287 | 33.8% |
| 2022 | 258 | 32.6% |
| 2023 | 193 | 32.1% |
| 2024 | 155 | 33.6% |
| 2025 | 125 | 28.0% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Pickup
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 15.9% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (15.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (15.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.2% 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 2002 Nissan Pickups pass their MOT?
67.6% of the 1,018 2002 Nissan Pickup MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Nissan Pickup?
Brakes, recorded in 15.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.4%).
Does the 2002 Pickup get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 31.7% in the 0-30k band to 32.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,018 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.