2012 Nissan Pixo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 11,070 MOT tests, the 2012 Nissan Pixo recorded an 81.4% pass rate. Against city cars of a similar age (20.9% fail rate), the 2012 Pixo comes out 2.3pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.4% of all tests — 3.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, wipers and stop lamp — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 728 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.8% versus 12.2%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 31.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 1,157 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.7% | 736 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.5% | 715 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.3% | 702 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.9% | 543 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.0% | 224 |
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 | 728 |
| 2 | Wipers | 674 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 387 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 372 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 309 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 284 |
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 | 31.5% | 3,483 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.0% | 3,095 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.0% | 2,987 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.0% | 889 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 886 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 841 |
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 | 2,380 | 12.2% |
| 30-60k | 4,846 | 17.4% |
| 60-90k | 2,808 | 22.7% |
| 90-120k | 762 | 27.4% |
| 120-150k | 204 | 29.9% |
| 150k+ | 67 | 29.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,223 | 16.0% |
| 2022 | 2,232 | 16.6% |
| 2023 | 2,250 | 19.0% |
| 2024 | 2,224 | 20.7% |
| 2025 | 2,141 | 21.0% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Pixo
On a 2012 Pixo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.7% 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 (6.5% 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 2012 Nissan Pixos pass their MOT?
81.4% of the 11,070 2012 Nissan Pixo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Nissan Pixo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.4% of tests, followed by brakes (6.7%).
Does the 2012 Pixo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.2% in the 0-30k band to 29.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,070 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.