2015 Nissan Pulsar — MOT failures & pass rate
46,612 MOT tests on the 2015 Nissan Pulsar are in this dataset, and 80.0% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (15.6% fail rate), the 2015 Pulsar comes out 4.4pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 10.9% of all tests — 5.0 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, coil spring and track rod end — ball joint alone was recorded 3,059 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.9% once past 150k — 3.8× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 7.4pp more often than petrol ones (24.7% vs 17.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.9% | 5,098 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.9% | 2,761 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.2% | 2,443 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 1,849 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.0% | 1,420 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.7% | 795 |
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 | 3,059 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 2,353 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 1,691 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,670 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,479 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 809 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 25.8% | 12,024 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.9% | 11,585 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.1% | 6,101 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.4% | 3,463 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 1,591 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.2% | 1,496 |
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 | 4,845 | 8.4% |
| 30-60k | 20,717 | 16.6% |
| 60-90k | 15,071 | 24.8% |
| 90-120k | 4,581 | 28.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,041 | 30.7% |
| 150k+ | 348 | 31.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 29,765 | 17.3% |
| Diesel | 16,847 | 24.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,919 | 14.2% |
| 2022 | 9,264 | 17.9% |
| 2023 | 9,507 | 21.2% |
| 2024 | 9,543 | 22.8% |
| 2025 | 9,379 | 23.4% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Pulsar
On a 2015 Pulsar, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (10.9% 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 (5.9% 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 (5.2% 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 2015 Nissan Pulsars pass their MOT?
80.0% of the 46,612 2015 Nissan Pulsar MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Nissan Pulsar?
Suspension, recorded in 10.9% of tests, followed by brakes (5.9%).
Does the 2015 Pulsar get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.4% in the 0-30k band to 31.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 46,612 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.