2017 Nissan Pulsar — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Nissan Pulsar passed 87.8% of its 23,288 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 12.0%, so the 2017 Pulsar sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.8%) and brakes (4.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, tread depth and headlamp aim — brake pads alone was recorded 698 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.0% versus 6.3%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 5.0pp more often than petrol ones (16.2% vs 11.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.8% | 1,117 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.0% | 921 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.3% | 773 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.3% | 762 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.3% | 306 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.2% | 278 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 698 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 693 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 469 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 394 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 307 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 306 |
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 | 23.8% | 5,535 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.0% | 4,424 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.0% | 1,620 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.6% | 1,546 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 492 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 423 |
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 | 7,573 | 6.3% |
| 30-60k | 11,114 | 12.9% |
| 60-90k | 3,687 | 19.2% |
| 90-120k | 704 | 25.1% |
| 120-150k | 139 | 28.1% |
| 150k+ | 70 | 30.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 18,378 | 11.2% |
| Diesel | 4,910 | 16.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,431 | 6.5% |
| 2022 | 4,509 | 9.1% |
| 2023 | 4,721 | 12.7% |
| 2024 | 4,762 | 15.0% |
| 2025 | 4,865 | 17.3% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Pulsar
On a 2017 Pulsar, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.8% 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 (4.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2017 Nissan Pulsars pass their MOT?
87.8% of the 23,288 2017 Nissan Pulsar MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Nissan Pulsar?
Tyres, recorded in 4.8% of tests, followed by brakes (4.0%).
Does the 2017 Pulsar get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.3% in the 0-30k band to 30.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 23,288 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.