2000 Nissan Vanette — MOT failures & pass rate
469 MOT tests on the 2000 Nissan Vanette are in this dataset, and 65.3% of them passed. That is 8.0 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.8%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 24.3% of all tests — 6.6 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, integral vehicle structure condition and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 236 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 36.3% versus 25.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 43.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 37.6% in 2021 to 32.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 24.3% | 114 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 17.7% | 83 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.3% | 81 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.6% | 59 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.3% | 39 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.3% | 20 |
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 | 236 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 59 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 50 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 46 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 39 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 35 |
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 | 43.7% | 205 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.3% | 147 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.2% | 123 |
| 4 | Other defects | 25.6% | 120 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.6% | 87 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 18.6% | 87 |
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 | 71 | 25.4% |
| 60-90k | 157 | 33.8% |
| 90-120k | 130 | 37.7% |
| 120-150k | 80 | 36.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 133 | 37.6% |
| 2022 | 119 | 37.0% |
| 2023 | 97 | 32.0% |
| 2024 | 68 | 30.9% |
| 2025 | 52 | 32.7% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Vanette
On a 2000 Vanette, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 24.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (24.3% 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 (17.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (17.3% 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 2000 Nissan Vanettes pass their MOT?
65.3% of the 469 2000 Nissan Vanette MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Nissan Vanette?
Suspension, recorded in 24.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (17.7%).
Does the 2000 Vanette get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.4% in the 30-60k band to 36.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 469 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.