2000 Nissan Skyline — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2000 Nissan Skyline passed 92.4% of its 461 recorded MOT tests. That is 18.9 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.8%) and emissions & environmental (4.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and track rod end — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 35 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 0.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.8% once past 150k — 187.5× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 13.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 9.6% in 2021 to 5.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 22 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 21 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.7% | 8 |
| 4 | Tyres | 1.3% | 6 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.1% | 5 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.1% | 5 |
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 | 35 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 8 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 7 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 7 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 6 |
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 | 13.7% | 63 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.2% | 38 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.9% | 32 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.5% | 30 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 23 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.6% | 21 |
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 | 42 | 0.0% |
| 30-60k | 85 | 7.1% |
| 60-90k | 145 | 6.2% |
| 90-120k | 100 | 9.0% |
| 120-150k | 57 | 8.8% |
| 150k+ | 32 | 18.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 83 | 9.6% |
| 2022 | 76 | 5.3% |
| 2023 | 91 | 7.7% |
| 2024 | 106 | 9.4% |
| 2025 | 105 | 5.7% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Skyline
On a 2000 Skyline, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (4.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (4.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (1.7% 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 2000 Nissan Skylines pass their MOT?
92.4% of the 461 2000 Nissan Skyline MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Nissan Skyline?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.8% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (4.6%).
Does the 2000 Skyline get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 0.0% in the 0-30k band to 18.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 461 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.