2005 Nissan Primastar — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,964 MOT tests, the 2005 Nissan Primastar recorded a 67.3% pass rate. That is 3.0 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 29.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (22.0%) and suspension (20.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, position lamp and track rod end — ball joint alone was recorded 972 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 33.0% versus 28.4%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.9% 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 | 22.0% | 1,751 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.3% | 1,616 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.4% | 1,305 |
| 4 | Steering | 8.7% | 696 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.5% | 677 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.1% | 483 |
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 | 972 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 780 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 702 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 674 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 627 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 445 |
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 | 36.9% | 2,941 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.3% | 2,810 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 24.8% | 1,974 |
| 4 | Tyres | 24.2% | 1,927 |
| 5 | Other defects | 20.2% | 1,607 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 1,074 |
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 | 201 | 28.4% |
| 60-90k | 579 | 29.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,452 | 32.3% |
| 120-150k | 2,221 | 33.5% |
| 150k+ | 3,473 | 33.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,043 | 33.2% |
| 2022 | 1,874 | 32.6% |
| 2023 | 1,612 | 32.9% |
| 2024 | 1,342 | 32.3% |
| 2025 | 1,093 | 32.2% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Primastar
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 22.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (22.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (20.3% 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 (16.4% 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.
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 2005 Nissan Primastars pass their MOT?
67.3% of the 7,964 2005 Nissan Primastar MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Nissan Primastar?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 22.0% of tests, followed by suspension (20.3%).
Does the 2005 Primastar get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.4% in the 30-60k band to 33.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,964 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.