2004 Nissan Pickup — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,883 MOT tests, the 2004 Nissan Pickup recorded a 70.6% pass rate. That is 1.7 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.4%) and brakes (15.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, position lamp and chassis condition — service brake performance alone was recorded 303 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 17.1% in the 0-30k band and 30.4% in the 150k+ band, a 13.3-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 45.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.6% in 2021 to 26.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 472 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.5% | 446 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.7% | 396 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.2% | 381 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.0% | 231 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.0% | 115 |
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 | 303 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 233 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 219 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 202 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 191 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 190 |
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 | 45.0% | 1,297 |
| 2 | Brakes | 40.7% | 1,173 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 30.7% | 885 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.4% | 618 |
| 5 | Tyres | 20.2% | 583 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 15.4% | 444 |
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 | 35 | 17.1% |
| 30-60k | 172 | 19.8% |
| 60-90k | 482 | 27.6% |
| 90-120k | 873 | 29.1% |
| 120-150k | 701 | 32.8% |
| 150k+ | 611 | 30.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 842 | 30.6% |
| 2022 | 669 | 27.4% |
| 2023 | 566 | 29.7% |
| 2024 | 467 | 31.9% |
| 2025 | 339 | 26.3% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Pickup
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (15.5% 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.
- Suspension (13.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 2004 Nissan Pickups pass their MOT?
70.6% of the 2,883 2004 Nissan Pickup MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Nissan Pickup?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by brakes (15.5%).
Does the 2004 Pickup get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.1% in the 0-30k band to 30.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,883 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.