2005 Nissan Primera — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,271 MOT tests, the 2005 Nissan Primera recorded a 72.2% pass rate. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 27.8%, so the 2005 Primera sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 20.1% of all tests — 9.7 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 625 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.4% versus 17.7%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.9pp more often than petrol ones (29.4% vs 27.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 33.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.3% in 2021 to 26.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.1% | 1,261 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.4% | 655 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.1% | 632 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.4% | 404 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.1% | 380 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 372 |
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 | 625 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 558 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 463 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 378 |
| 5 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 357 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 316 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 33.7% | 2,115 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.5% | 1,978 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.9% | 1,750 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 24.8% | 1,552 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 19.4% | 1,219 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.8% | 865 |
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 | 79 | 17.7% |
| 30-60k | 794 | 22.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,938 | 25.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,868 | 29.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,078 | 31.9% |
| 150k+ | 513 | 32.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,213 | 27.5% |
| Diesel | 1,058 | 29.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,028 | 29.3% |
| 2022 | 1,517 | 26.6% |
| 2023 | 1,153 | 26.8% |
| 2024 | 899 | 28.6% |
| 2025 | 674 | 26.6% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Primera
On a 2005 Primera, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (20.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.4% 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.
- Suspension (10.1% 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
How many 2005 Nissan Primeras pass their MOT?
72.2% of the 6,271 2005 Nissan Primera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Nissan Primera?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.1% of tests, followed by brakes (10.4%).
Does the 2005 Primera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.7% in the 0-30k band to 32.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,271 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.