2016 Nissan Pulsar — MOT failures & pass rate
36,429 MOT tests on the 2016 Nissan Pulsar are in this dataset, and 84.0% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 13.8% of the time, so this is 2.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (6.3%) and tyres (5.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, tread depth and brake pads — ball joint alone was recorded 1,406 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.7% once past 150k — 3.4× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 13.7% fail against 19.4% for diesel, a 5.7-point gap across 36,429 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.3% | 2,292 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.3% | 1,940 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.9% | 1,772 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 1,477 |
| 5 | Steering | 1.9% | 684 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.5% | 546 |
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 | 1,406 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,233 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,198 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 864 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 749 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 708 |
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 | 25.1% | 9,148 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.2% | 8,087 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.0% | 3,649 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.4% | 2,706 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 993 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 957 |
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 | 7,021 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 17,401 | 14.0% |
| 60-90k | 8,880 | 22.1% |
| 90-120k | 2,387 | 27.1% |
| 120-150k | 564 | 26.6% |
| 150k+ | 170 | 27.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 22,175 | 13.7% |
| Diesel | 14,254 | 19.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,924 | 10.3% |
| 2022 | 7,152 | 13.1% |
| 2023 | 7,364 | 16.4% |
| 2024 | 7,448 | 18.8% |
| 2025 | 7,541 | 20.6% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Pulsar
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 6.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (6.3% 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.
- Tyres (5.3% 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.
- Brakes (4.9% 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.
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 2016 Nissan Pulsars pass their MOT?
84.0% of the 36,429 2016 Nissan Pulsar MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Nissan Pulsar?
Suspension, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by tyres (5.3%).
Does the 2016 Pulsar get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 27.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 36,429 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.