1992 Nissan Sunny — MOT failures & pass rate
333 MOT tests on the 1992 Nissan Sunny are in this dataset, and 73.9% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 23.0% of the time, so this is 3.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (10.8%) and suspension (10.8%) 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, catalyst emissions and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 43 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1992 Sunny fails 29.0% of the time in the 30-60k band and 29.1% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.1 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 26.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.2% in 2021 to 25.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 10.8% | 36 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.8% | 36 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.2% | 34 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 31 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.5% | 25 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 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 | Catalyst emissions | 38 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 26 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 17 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 17 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 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 | 26.1% | 87 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.1% | 87 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.0% | 60 |
| 4 | Tyres | 15.9% | 53 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.3% | 31 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.2% | 24 |
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 | 69 | 29.0% |
| 60-90k | 133 | 24.8% |
| 90-120k | 79 | 29.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 89 | 29.2% |
| 2022 | 64 | 25.0% |
| 2023 | 70 | 30.0% |
| 2024 | 54 | 18.5% |
| 2025 | 56 | 25.0% |
What to check before buying a 1992 Sunny
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 10.8% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (10.8% 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.
- Suspension (10.8% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.2% 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 1992 Nissan Sunnys pass their MOT?
73.9% of the 333 1992 Nissan Sunny MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Nissan Sunny?
Brakes, recorded in 10.8% of tests, followed by suspension (10.8%).
Does the 1992 Sunny get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.0% in the 30-60k band to 29.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 333 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.