2009 Nissan Skyline — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 301 MOT tests, the 2009 Nissan Skyline recorded an 87.7% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 25.3% of the time, so this is 13.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.0%) and emissions & environmental (5.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and rear fog lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 23 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.5% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 17.6% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 16.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 21 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 17 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.7% | 8 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.7% | 8 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.0% | 6 |
| 6 | Brakes | 2.0% | 6 |
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 | 23 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 12 |
| 4 | Washers | 7 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 5 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 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 | Brakes | 16.9% | 51 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.0% | 48 |
| 3 | Tyres | 9.3% | 28 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.6% | 20 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 19 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 17 |
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 | 40 | 7.5% |
| 60-90k | 80 | 15.0% |
| 90-120k | 74 | 16.2% |
| 120-150k | 50 | 6.0% |
| 150k+ | 34 | 17.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 75 | 13.3% |
| 2022 | 69 | 14.5% |
| 2023 | 61 | 11.5% |
| 2024 | 46 | 2.2% |
| 2025 | 50 | 18.0% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Skyline
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (5.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Visibility (2.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2009 Nissan Skylines pass their MOT?
87.7% of the 301 2009 Nissan Skyline MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Nissan Skyline?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.0% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (5.7%).
Does the 2009 Skyline get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.5% in the 30-60k band to 17.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 301 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.