2009 Nissan Primastar — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Nissan Primastar passed 68.4% of its 5,766 recorded MOT tests. Against vans of a similar age (28.1% fail rate), the 2009 Primastar comes out 3.5pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (19.9%) and suspension (17.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, track rod end and rbt (sp) — ball joint alone was recorded 569 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 25.0% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 31.1% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 38.5% 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 | 19.9% | 1,150 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.2% | 994 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.1% | 871 |
| 4 | Steering | 9.6% | 556 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.2% | 418 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.9% | 284 |
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 | 569 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 568 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 445 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 422 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 396 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 369 |
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 | 38.5% | 2,217 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.9% | 1,548 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.2% | 1,336 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.3% | 1,170 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.6% | 785 |
| 6 | Visibility | 11.3% | 653 |
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 | 188 | 25.0% |
| 60-90k | 707 | 30.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,293 | 31.2% |
| 120-150k | 1,563 | 33.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,999 | 31.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,353 | 31.0% |
| 2022 | 1,287 | 32.2% |
| 2023 | 1,212 | 32.1% |
| 2024 | 1,018 | 31.0% |
| 2025 | 896 | 31.5% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Primastar
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (17.2% 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 (15.1% 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 2009 Nissan Primastars pass their MOT?
68.4% of the 5,766 2009 Nissan Primastar MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Nissan Primastar?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.9% of tests, followed by suspension (17.2%).
Does the 2009 Primastar get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.0% in the 30-60k band to 31.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,766 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.