2004 Nissan Terrano — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Nissan Terrano passed 69.9% of its 3,584 recorded MOT tests. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 28.1% of the time, so this is 2.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (17.6%) and suspension (16.5%) 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, joints and position lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 353 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.2% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 41.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.4% in 2021 to 28.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.6% | 632 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.5% | 590 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 529 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.2% | 367 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.5% | 231 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.6% | 202 |
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 | 353 |
| 2 | Joints | 340 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 271 |
| 4 | Chassis condition | 245 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 213 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 202 |
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 | 41.3% | 1,480 |
| 2 | Brakes | 38.7% | 1,386 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 32.5% | 1,163 |
| 4 | Tyres | 19.9% | 714 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.6% | 596 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 15.5% | 556 |
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 | 45 | 20.0% |
| 30-60k | 187 | 25.1% |
| 60-90k | 689 | 28.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,159 | 28.6% |
| 120-150k | 931 | 33.9% |
| 150k+ | 548 | 31.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,157 | 30.4% |
| 2022 | 857 | 30.2% |
| 2023 | 674 | 30.3% |
| 2024 | 505 | 29.9% |
| 2025 | 391 | 28.9% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Terrano
On a 2004 Terrano, body, structure & corrosion is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Body, structure & corrosion (17.6% 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 (16.5% 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 (14.8% 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
How many 2004 Nissan Terranos pass their MOT?
69.9% of the 3,584 2004 Nissan Terrano MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Nissan Terrano?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 17.6% of tests, followed by suspension (16.5%).
Does the 2004 Terrano get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 0-30k band to 31.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,584 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.