Nissan Terrano MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 30 model years and 13,765 tests, the Nissan Terrano passes its MOT 69.9% of the time. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (28.1% fail rate), the Terrano comes out 2.0pp worse. Its most common failure areas are body, structure & corrosion, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (16.8%) and suspension (16.2%) 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, prescribed areas and joints — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 1,308 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 25.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.4% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 40.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.1% in 2021 to 27.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Terrano model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 44 | 86.4% | 13.6% | Brakes |
| 1994 | 68 | 73.5% | 26.5% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1995 | 112 | 70.5% | 29.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 139 | 66.9% | 33.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 244 | 67.6% | 32.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 390 | 71.3% | 28.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 562 | 68.3% | 31.7% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 2000 | 566 | 73.0% | 27.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 789 | 72.1% | 27.9% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 2002 | 1,823 | 69.8% | 30.2% | Suspension |
| 2003 | 2,463 | 70.1% | 29.9% | Suspension |
| 2004 | 3,584 | 69.9% | 30.1% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 2005 | 2,329 | 68.8% | 31.2% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 2006 | 582 | 68.0% | 32.0% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 2007 | 35 | 71.4% | 28.6% | Body, structure & corrosion |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.8% | 2,312 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.2% | 2,226 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 2,077 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.5% | 1,442 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 7.4% | 1,018 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.3% | 732 |
| 7 | Visibility | 5.3% | 725 |
| 8 | Tyres | 3.5% | 481 |
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 | 1,308 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 1,057 |
| 3 | Joints | 1,038 |
| 4 | Chassis condition | 906 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 868 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 785 |
| 7 | Linkage ball joints | 711 |
| 8 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 663 |
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 | 40.0% | 5,512 |
| 2 | Brakes | 36.6% | 5,044 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 31.8% | 4,379 |
| 4 | Tyres | 20.0% | 2,750 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.0% | 2,198 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.8% | 2,036 |
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 | 239 | 25.1% |
| 30-60k | 824 | 26.2% |
| 60-90k | 2,781 | 28.8% |
| 90-120k | 4,069 | 29.0% |
| 120-150k | 3,325 | 31.9% |
| 150k+ | 2,140 | 32.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 13,552 | 30.1% |
| Petrol | 213 | 30.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,557 | 31.1% |
| 2022 | 3,351 | 30.6% |
| 2023 | 2,571 | 30.5% |
| 2024 | 1,869 | 28.7% |
| 2025 | 1,417 | 27.0% |
What to check before buying a Nissan Terrano
- Body, structure & corrosion (16.8% 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 (16.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (15.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Nissan Terrano?
69.9% of the 13,765 Nissan Terrano MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 30.1% fail rate, across model years 1992–2021.
What does the Nissan Terrano most often fail its MOT on?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 16.8% of tests, then suspension (16.2%).
How much does mileage affect Terrano MOT results?
Fail rates run at 25.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 32.4% for 150k+, a 7.3-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,765 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.