2007 Nissan Skyline — MOT failures & pass rate
628 MOT tests on the 2007 Nissan Skyline are in this dataset, and 87.7% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 26.8% of the time, so this is 14.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.3% of tests against 5.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp and rigid brake pipes — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 49 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2007 Skyline fails 13.5% of the time in the 30-60k band and 14.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.4 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 16.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 11.7% in 2021 to 8.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 52 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 33 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.8% | 30 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.1% | 26 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.4% | 15 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.1% | 13 |
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 | 49 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 24 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 20 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 17 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 16 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 16 |
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 | 16.9% | 106 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.4% | 103 |
| 3 | Tyres | 15.1% | 95 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.3% | 65 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 49 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 32 |
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 | 74 | 13.5% |
| 60-90k | 176 | 11.4% |
| 90-120k | 198 | 12.1% |
| 120-150k | 111 | 11.7% |
| 150k+ | 47 | 14.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 163 | 11.7% |
| 2022 | 147 | 12.9% |
| 2023 | 128 | 13.3% |
| 2024 | 106 | 14.1% |
| 2025 | 84 | 8.3% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Skyline
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (5.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (4.8% 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 2007 Nissan Skylines pass their MOT?
87.7% of the 628 2007 Nissan Skyline MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Nissan Skyline?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.3% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (5.3%).
Does the 2007 Skyline get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.5% in the 30-60k band to 14.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 628 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.