Nissan Pixo MOT pass rate & common failures
The Nissan Pixo appears in 73,259 MOT tests spanning model years 2009–2020, and 79.8% of them passed. That is 3.5 percentage points better than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.7%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
Best and worst Pixo years
Ranked across Pixo years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Build year matters more than the headline suggests: 2013 cars pass 83.4% of the time while 2009 cars manage 78.9%, a 4.4-point spread.
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.5% of tests against 7.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, wipers and stop lamp — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 4,552 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.8% in the 0-30k band and 30.7% in the 150k+ band, a 18.9-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Pixo model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 21,819 | 78.9% | 21.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 25,115 | 79.0% | 21.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 12,331 | 80.7% | 19.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 11,070 | 81.4% | 18.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 2,918 | 83.4% | 16.6% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 9,921 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.3% | 5,338 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.0% | 5,145 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.5% | 4,782 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.2% | 3,784 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 1,701 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 1,022 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.2% | 903 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 4,552 |
| 2 | Wipers | 4,077 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 3,473 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 3,129 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,394 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 2,120 |
| 7 | Washers | 1,886 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 1,858 |
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 | 33.0% | 24,176 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.1% | 23,527 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.8% | 20,374 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 8,569 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.4% | 6,889 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.7% | 6,356 |
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 | 10,869 | 11.8% |
| 30-60k | 28,593 | 18.3% |
| 60-90k | 22,602 | 23.3% |
| 90-120k | 8,608 | 26.0% |
| 120-150k | 2,005 | 29.2% |
| 150k+ | 570 | 30.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,427 | 18.4% |
| 2022 | 15,259 | 18.9% |
| 2023 | 14,965 | 20.6% |
| 2024 | 14,269 | 21.7% |
| 2025 | 13,339 | 21.7% |
What to check before buying a Nissan Pixo
- 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.
- Suspension (7.3% 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.
- Brakes (7.0% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Nissan Pixo?
79.8% of the 73,259 Nissan Pixo MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 20.2% fail rate, across model years 2009–2020.
What does the Nissan Pixo most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.5% of tests, then suspension (7.3%).
Which Pixo years are best and worst for MOT results?
2013 has the best pass rate at 83.4% and 2009 the weakest at 78.9%, from 2,918 and 21,819 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Pixo MOT results?
Fail rates run at 11.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 30.7% for 150k+, a 18.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 73,259 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.