2017 Nissan Skyline — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 362 MOT tests, the 2017 Nissan Skyline recorded a 90.3% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (12.1% fail rate), the 2017 Skyline comes out 2.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 7.5% of all tests — 3.3 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and rear fog lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 17 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2017 Skyline fails 12.9% of the time in the 30-60k band and 16.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.8 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 12.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 27 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 15 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.9% | 7 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.9% | 7 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.7% | 6 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.7% | 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 | 17 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 12 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 8 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 7 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 6 |
| 6 | Flexible brake hoses | 5 |
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 | 12.2% | 44 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.8% | 32 |
| 3 | Steering | 6.1% | 22 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.3% | 19 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.1% | 15 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 15 |
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 | 62 | 12.9% |
| 60-90k | 111 | 4.5% |
| 90-120k | 97 | 11.3% |
| 120-150k | 41 | 9.8% |
| 150k+ | 30 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 94 | 10.6% |
| 2022 | 88 | 13.6% |
| 2023 | 72 | 6.9% |
| 2024 | 51 | 3.9% |
| 2025 | 57 | 10.5% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Skyline
On a 2017 Skyline, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (4.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Body, structure & corrosion (1.9% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Skylines pass their MOT?
90.3% of the 362 2017 Nissan Skyline MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Nissan Skyline?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (4.1%).
Does the 2017 Skyline get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.9% in the 30-60k band to 16.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 362 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.