1990 Nissan Sunny — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1990 Nissan Sunny passed 76.1% of its 343 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 21.9% of the time, so this is 2.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.1%) and body, structure & corrosion (8.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 43 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 22.9% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 28.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 38 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 29 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.2% | 28 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.9% | 27 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.7% | 16 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.7% | 16 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 43 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 22 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 17 |
| 4 | Wipers | 16 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 14 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 13 |
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 | 28.9% | 99 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.3% | 80 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.4% | 77 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.7% | 64 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.2% | 42 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.2% | 42 |
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 | 43 | 18.6% |
| 30-60k | 79 | 22.8% |
| 60-90k | 131 | 26.7% |
| 90-120k | 34 | 26.5% |
| 150k+ | 35 | 22.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 82 | 19.5% |
| 2022 | 78 | 26.9% |
| 2023 | 67 | 28.4% |
| 2024 | 62 | 21.0% |
| 2025 | 54 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a 1990 Sunny
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.5% 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+.
- Suspension (8.2% 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 1990 Nissan Sunnys pass their MOT?
76.1% of the 343 1990 Nissan Sunny MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1990 Nissan Sunny?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.1% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (8.5%).
Does the 1990 Sunny get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.6% in the 0-30k band to 22.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 343 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.