2014 Nissan Pulsar — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,510 MOT tests, the 2014 Nissan Pulsar recorded a 76.9% pass rate. Against small family cars of a similar age (17.5% fail rate), the 2014 Pulsar comes out 5.5pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 13.2% of tests against 6.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, coil spring and track rod end — ball joint alone was recorded 603 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.0% in the 0-30k band and 22.0% in the 150k+ band, a 12.0-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 20.6% fail against 25.9% for diesel, a 5.3-point gap across 8,510 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 27.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.2% | 1,120 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.6% | 561 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.0% | 509 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 438 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.5% | 382 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 156 |
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 | 603 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 601 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 467 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 278 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 264 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 205 |
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 | 27.8% | 2,364 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.8% | 2,283 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.9% | 1,270 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.2% | 615 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 309 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 259 |
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 | 618 | 10.0% |
| 30-60k | 3,146 | 18.8% |
| 60-90k | 3,190 | 27.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,227 | 28.9% |
| 120-150k | 276 | 30.1% |
| 150k+ | 50 | 22.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,545 | 20.6% |
| Diesel | 3,965 | 25.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,622 | 17.9% |
| 2022 | 1,699 | 21.4% |
| 2023 | 1,740 | 24.1% |
| 2024 | 1,735 | 25.8% |
| 2025 | 1,714 | 25.6% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Pulsar
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.2% 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 (6.6% 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.
- Tyres (6.0% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2014 Nissan Pulsars pass their MOT?
76.9% of the 8,510 2014 Nissan Pulsar MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Nissan Pulsar?
Suspension, recorded in 13.2% of tests, followed by brakes (6.6%).
Does the 2014 Pulsar get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 0-30k band to 22.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,510 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.