1999 Nissan Primera — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,710 MOT tests, the 1999 Nissan Primera recorded a 72.0% pass rate. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.9%) and brakes (12.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and joints — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 247 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.8% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 29.9% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 30.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 27.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 32.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 221 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.6% | 216 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.9% | 203 |
| 4 | Suspension | 11.6% | 198 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.9% | 118 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.4% | 110 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 247 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 123 |
| 3 | Joints | 97 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 85 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 79 |
| 6 | Wipers | 73 |
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 | 30.5% | 521 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.5% | 453 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.7% | 422 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.6% | 370 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 17.1% | 293 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.4% | 264 |
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 | 283 | 20.8% |
| 60-90k | 529 | 26.5% |
| 90-120k | 510 | 31.2% |
| 120-150k | 259 | 33.2% |
| 150k+ | 117 | 29.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,677 | 28.0% |
| Diesel | 33 | 27.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 532 | 27.8% |
| 2022 | 414 | 26.6% |
| 2023 | 320 | 26.9% |
| 2024 | 240 | 28.3% |
| 2025 | 204 | 32.8% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Primera
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.6% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.9% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1999 Nissan Primeras pass their MOT?
72.0% of the 1,710 1999 Nissan Primera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Nissan Primera?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.9% of tests, followed by brakes (12.6%).
Does the 1999 Primera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.8% in the 30-60k band to 29.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,710 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.