2010 Nissan Tiida — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,270 MOT tests, the 2010 Nissan Tiida recorded a 66.9% pass rate. That is 8.8 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.3%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 21.1% of tests against 15.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, pins and bushes and position lamp — ball joint alone was recorded 139 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 26.9% in the 30-60k band and 38.2% in the 120-150k band, a 11.3-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 42.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 31.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 37.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 21.1% | 268 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.5% | 197 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.3% | 195 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.0% | 89 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 83 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.5% | 83 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 139 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 115 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 103 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 85 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 83 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 73 |
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 | 42.8% | 543 |
| 2 | Brakes | 41.2% | 523 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.6% | 312 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.0% | 216 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 137 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.6% | 135 |
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 | 327 | 26.9% |
| 60-90k | 543 | 34.8% |
| 90-120k | 257 | 36.2% |
| 120-150k | 89 | 38.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 288 | 31.3% |
| 2022 | 271 | 30.3% |
| 2023 | 274 | 35.0% |
| 2024 | 229 | 32.3% |
| 2025 | 208 | 37.5% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Tiida
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 21.1% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (21.1% 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 (15.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (15.3% 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.
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 2010 Nissan Tiidas pass their MOT?
66.9% of the 1,270 2010 Nissan Tiida MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Nissan Tiida?
Suspension, recorded in 21.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.5%).
Does the 2010 Tiida get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.9% in the 30-60k band to 38.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,270 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.