2006 Nissan Primastar — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Nissan Primastar passed 68.6% of its 8,535 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.9 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 29.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (21.2%) and suspension (18.6%) 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 997 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 26.4% in the 30-60k band and 32.0% in the 150k+ band, a 5.6-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 36.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.4% in 2021 to 29.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.2% | 1,813 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.6% | 1,592 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.1% | 1,371 |
| 4 | Steering | 8.9% | 761 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.0% | 686 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.9% | 419 |
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 | 997 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 816 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 795 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 728 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 658 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 477 |
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 | 36.4% | 3,109 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.5% | 2,859 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 26.4% | 2,257 |
| 4 | Tyres | 24.8% | 2,113 |
| 5 | Other defects | 21.2% | 1,813 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 1,227 |
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 | 129 | 26.4% |
| 60-90k | 698 | 30.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,488 | 30.1% |
| 120-150k | 2,214 | 31.6% |
| 150k+ | 3,981 | 32.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,236 | 32.4% |
| 2022 | 1,973 | 30.8% |
| 2023 | 1,758 | 31.5% |
| 2024 | 1,419 | 31.6% |
| 2025 | 1,149 | 29.9% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Primastar
On a 2006 Primastar, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 21.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (21.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (18.6% 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 (16.1% 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 2006 Nissan Primastars pass their MOT?
68.6% of the 8,535 2006 Nissan Primastar MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Nissan Primastar?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.2% of tests, followed by suspension (18.6%).
Does the 2006 Primastar get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.4% in the 30-60k band to 32.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,535 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.