Nissan Primera MOT pass rate & common failures
The Nissan Primera appears in 29,458 MOT tests spanning model years 1990–2023, and 72.5% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 27.6%, so the Primera sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
Best and worst Primera years
Ranked across Primera years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
The strongest year on this record is 2001 (75.1% pass rate); the weakest is 2002 (71.0%). Older cars carry more of the difference than the average implies.
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.1% of tests against 11.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 2,563 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 19.6% in the 0-30k band and 33.0% in the 150k+ band, a 13.4-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 27.3% fail against 29.7% for diesel, a 2.4-point gap across 29,458 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 32.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Primera model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 106 | 74.5% | 25.5% | Brakes |
| 1992 | 91 | 76.9% | 23.1% | Suspension |
| 1993 | 132 | 72.7% | 27.3% | Suspension |
| 1994 | 127 | 68.5% | 31.5% | Brakes |
| 1995 | 147 | 74.8% | 25.2% | Brakes |
| 1996 | 385 | 73.0% | 27.0% | Suspension |
| 1997 | 1,145 | 72.8% | 27.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 1,655 | 73.7% | 26.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 1,710 | 72.0% | 28.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 781 | 71.1% | 28.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 1,432 | 75.1% | 24.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 2,912 | 71.0% | 29.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 3,594 | 71.7% | 28.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 4,515 | 72.8% | 27.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 6,271 | 72.2% | 27.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 4,368 | 72.8% | 27.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 56 | 71.4% | 28.6% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.1% | 5,333 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.5% | 3,375 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.2% | 3,011 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.4% | 2,172 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 1,818 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.8% | 1,713 |
| 7 | Tyres | 5.2% | 1,536 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.2% | 1,226 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 2,563 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 2,200 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,747 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 1,575 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 1,420 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,333 |
| 7 | Wipers | 1,332 |
| 8 | Rbt (sp) | 1,117 |
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 | 32.9% | 9,690 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.6% | 9,595 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.7% | 8,166 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.4% | 6,319 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 17.0% | 5,001 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.1% | 4,457 |
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 | 444 | 19.6% |
| 30-60k | 4,253 | 21.5% |
| 60-90k | 9,337 | 25.9% |
| 90-120k | 8,787 | 29.4% |
| 120-150k | 4,458 | 31.2% |
| 150k+ | 2,163 | 33.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 26,448 | 27.3% |
| Diesel | 3,010 | 29.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,424 | 28.0% |
| 2022 | 7,200 | 27.6% |
| 2023 | 5,535 | 27.2% |
| 2024 | 4,158 | 27.8% |
| 2025 | 3,141 | 26.5% |
What to check before buying a Nissan Primera
- Lighting & signalling (18.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.5% 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 (10.2% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Nissan Primera?
72.5% of the 29,458 Nissan Primera MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.6% fail rate, across model years 1990–2023.
What does the Nissan Primera most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.1% of tests, then brakes (11.5%).
Which Primera years are best and worst for MOT results?
2001 has the best pass rate at 75.1% and 2002 the weakest at 71.0%, from 1,432 and 2,912 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Primera MOT results?
Fail rates run at 19.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 33.0% for 150k+, a 13.4-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Primera more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 27.3% of the time against 29.7% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 29,458 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.