2009 Nissan Pixo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 21,819 MOT tests, the 2009 Nissan Pixo recorded a 78.9% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail 25.7% of the time, so this is 4.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.4% of all tests — 8.0 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, stop lamp and wipers — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 1,407 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.4% in the 0-30k band and 32.0% in the 150k+ band, a 19.6-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 35.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 3,361 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.4% | 1,616 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.3% | 1,599 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.7% | 1,469 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.1% | 1,124 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.7% | 585 |
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 | 1,407 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 1,303 |
| 3 | Wipers | 1,214 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 1,028 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 809 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 663 |
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 | 35.0% | 7,635 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.7% | 7,562 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.8% | 6,055 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 2,967 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.7% | 2,338 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.1% | 1,990 |
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 | 2,734 | 12.4% |
| 30-60k | 8,023 | 19.2% |
| 60-90k | 7,167 | 23.2% |
| 90-120k | 3,036 | 26.0% |
| 120-150k | 655 | 30.1% |
| 150k+ | 200 | 32.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,753 | 19.6% |
| 2022 | 4,641 | 20.3% |
| 2023 | 4,445 | 21.5% |
| 2024 | 4,152 | 22.1% |
| 2025 | 3,828 | 22.3% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Pixo
On a 2009 Pixo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Brakes (7.4% 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 (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.
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 2009 Nissan Pixos pass their MOT?
78.9% of the 21,819 2009 Nissan Pixo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Nissan Pixo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.4% of tests, followed by brakes (7.4%).
Does the 2009 Pixo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.4% in the 0-30k band to 32.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,819 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.