2003 Nissan Primastar — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Nissan Primastar passed 65.9% of its 3,876 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.1 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 30.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (23.3%) and suspension (20.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, washers and headlamp aim — ball joint alone was recorded 395 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 35.0% versus 40.0%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 42.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 23.3% | 902 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.4% | 791 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.3% | 669 |
| 4 | Visibility | 11.9% | 460 |
| 5 | Steering | 9.0% | 350 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 340 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 395 |
| 2 | Washers | 341 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 338 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 332 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 329 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 328 |
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 | 42.5% | 1,647 |
| 2 | Suspension | 39.7% | 1,540 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 29.3% | 1,137 |
| 4 | Tyres | 26.1% | 1,012 |
| 5 | Other defects | 25.6% | 993 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 657 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 35 | 40.0% |
| 60-90k | 205 | 27.8% |
| 90-120k | 569 | 33.2% |
| 120-150k | 1,227 | 34.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,803 | 35.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,011 | 32.8% |
| 2022 | 924 | 34.7% |
| 2023 | 772 | 35.2% |
| 2024 | 643 | 33.8% |
| 2025 | 526 | 34.2% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Primastar
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 23.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (23.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (20.4% 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 (17.3% 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 2003 Nissan Primastars pass their MOT?
65.9% of the 3,876 2003 Nissan Primastar MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Nissan Primastar?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.3% of tests, followed by suspension (20.4%).
Does the 2003 Primastar get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 40.0% in the 30-60k band to 35.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,876 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.