Nissan Vanette MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 35 model years and 3,005 tests, the Nissan Vanette passes its MOT 64.5% of the time. Against all cars of a similar age (25.8% fail rate), the Vanette comes out 9.7pp worse. Its most common failure areas are suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 21.8% of all tests — 3.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and rigid brake pipes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 1,191 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 38.1% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 41.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Vanette model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 80 | 58.8% | 41.3% | Brakes |
| 1991 | 93 | 64.5% | 35.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 113 | 72.6% | 27.4% | Brakes |
| 1993 | 55 | 72.7% | 27.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 73 | 65.8% | 34.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 86 | 65.1% | 34.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 51 | 70.6% | 29.4% | Suspension |
| 1997 | 127 | 70.1% | 29.9% | Suspension |
| 1998 | 235 | 63.8% | 36.2% | Suspension |
| 1999 | 336 | 64.0% | 36.0% | Suspension |
| 2000 | 469 | 65.3% | 34.8% | Suspension |
| 2001 | 623 | 61.5% | 38.5% | Suspension |
| 2002 | 432 | 62.3% | 37.7% | Suspension |
| 2009 | 34 | 61.8% | 38.2% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 21.8% | 654 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.7% | 562 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 18.0% | 542 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.8% | 384 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.8% | 233 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.4% | 132 |
| 7 | Tyres | 4.1% | 123 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 119 |
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 | 1,191 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 299 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 254 |
| 4 | Chassis condition | 243 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 240 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 235 |
| 7 | Wipers | 193 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 188 |
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 | 41.2% | 1,237 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.1% | 994 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.5% | 616 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.1% | 603 |
| 5 | Other defects | 20.0% | 601 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 15.6% | 469 |
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 | 40 | 20.0% |
| 30-60k | 424 | 32.1% |
| 60-90k | 871 | 33.4% |
| 90-120k | 975 | 38.0% |
| 120-150k | 436 | 37.2% |
| 150k+ | 252 | 38.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,681 | 36.3% |
| Petrol | 324 | 29.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 915 | 35.2% |
| 2022 | 724 | 36.6% |
| 2023 | 572 | 36.0% |
| 2024 | 430 | 33.0% |
| 2025 | 364 | 36.3% |
What to check before buying a Nissan Vanette
- Suspension (21.8% 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.
- Brakes (18.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (18.0% 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 Vanette?
64.5% of the 3,005 Nissan Vanette MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 35.5% fail rate, across model years 1986–2020.
What does the Nissan Vanette most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 21.8% of tests, then brakes (18.7%).
How much does mileage affect Vanette MOT results?
Fail rates run at 20.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 38.1% for 150k+, a 18.1-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,005 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.