2011 Nissan Pixo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 12,331 MOT tests, the 2011 Nissan Pixo recorded an 80.7% pass rate. That is 3.3 percentage points better than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.1% of tests against 7.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, rigid brake pipes and position lamp — wipers alone was recorded 693 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.0% once past 150k — 3.0× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 32.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 1,497 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.4% | 914 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.5% | 797 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.4% | 785 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.8% | 597 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.9% | 238 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 693 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 671 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 495 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 455 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 419 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 317 |
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 | 32.3% | 3,986 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.2% | 3,844 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.1% | 3,462 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 1,309 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.5% | 1,045 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.2% | 1,016 |
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 | 2,021 | 10.9% |
| 30-60k | 4,832 | 16.8% |
| 60-90k | 3,791 | 23.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,265 | 25.4% |
| 120-150k | 319 | 29.8% |
| 150k+ | 100 | 33.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,559 | 17.2% |
| 2022 | 2,540 | 18.1% |
| 2023 | 2,535 | 19.5% |
| 2024 | 2,441 | 21.6% |
| 2025 | 2,256 | 20.2% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Pixo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.4% 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 (6.5% 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.
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 2011 Nissan Pixos pass their MOT?
80.7% of the 12,331 2011 Nissan Pixo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Nissan Pixo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.1% of tests, followed by suspension (7.4%).
Does the 2011 Pixo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 0-30k band to 33.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,331 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.