1993 Nissan Sunny — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1993 Nissan Sunny passed 72.1% of its 523 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.4 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.5%. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.0%) and brakes (11.3%) 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, service brake performance and integral vehicle structure condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 100 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 24.8% in the 30-60k band and 37.7% in the 120-150k band, a 12.9-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 29.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.4% in 2021 to 22.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.0% | 68 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.3% | 59 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.7% | 56 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 47 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.0% | 26 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.6% | 24 |
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 | 100 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 50 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 32 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 30 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 23 |
| 6 | Joints | 23 |
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 | 29.6% | 155 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.7% | 150 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.5% | 107 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.4% | 96 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.9% | 83 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.5% | 60 |
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 | 145 | 24.8% |
| 60-90k | 159 | 25.8% |
| 90-120k | 105 | 32.4% |
| 120-150k | 69 | 37.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 153 | 29.4% |
| 2022 | 117 | 31.6% |
| 2023 | 90 | 24.4% |
| 2024 | 91 | 28.6% |
| 2025 | 72 | 22.2% |
What to check before buying a 1993 Sunny
On a 1993 Sunny, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (13.0% 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.
- Brakes (11.3% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.7% 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 1993 Nissan Sunnys pass their MOT?
72.1% of the 523 1993 Nissan Sunny MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1993 Nissan Sunny?
Suspension, recorded in 13.0% of tests, followed by brakes (11.3%).
Does the 1993 Sunny get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.8% in the 30-60k band to 37.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 523 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.