1997 Nissan Skyline — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1997 Nissan Skyline passed 90.6% of its 276 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 24.9% of the time, so this is 15.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (4.7%) and lighting & signalling (4.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 29 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1997 Skyline fails 6.8% of the time in the 30-60k band and 10.0% at 120-150k, a spread of only 3.2 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 11.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 11.8% in 2021 to 8.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 13 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.7% | 13 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.6% | 10 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 7 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.8% | 5 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.5% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 29 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 10 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
| 4 | Wipers | 5 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joints | 4 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 4 |
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 | 11.2% | 31 |
| 2 | Tyres | 10.9% | 30 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.8% | 27 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 22 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.4% | 15 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 10 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 44 | 6.8% |
| 60-90k | 103 | 5.8% |
| 90-120k | 65 | 15.4% |
| 120-150k | 40 | 10.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 51 | 11.8% |
| 2022 | 38 | 5.3% |
| 2023 | 54 | 11.1% |
| 2024 | 63 | 9.5% |
| 2025 | 70 | 8.6% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Skyline
On a 1997 Skyline, emissions & environmental is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Emissions & environmental (4.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (4.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.6% 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 1997 Nissan Skylines pass their MOT?
90.6% of the 276 1997 Nissan Skyline MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Nissan Skyline?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.7%).
Does the 1997 Skyline get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.8% in the 30-60k band to 10.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 276 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.