2001 Nissan Vanette — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2001 Nissan Vanette passed 61.5% of its 623 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.2% of the time, so this is 11.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 24.7% of tests against 21.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, rigid brake pipes and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 297 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2001 Vanette fails 34.0% of the time in the 30-60k band and 37.0% at 120-150k, a spread of only 3.0 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 49.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 38.2% in 2021 to 36.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 24.7% | 154 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.7% | 135 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 18.0% | 112 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.1% | 88 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.5% | 47 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.0% | 31 |
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 | 297 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 74 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 70 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 54 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 52 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 52 |
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 | 49.0% | 305 |
| 2 | Suspension | 38.2% | 238 |
| 3 | Other defects | 27.8% | 173 |
| 4 | Tyres | 25.7% | 160 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.8% | 136 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 106 |
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 | 94 | 34.0% |
| 60-90k | 215 | 37.7% |
| 90-120k | 210 | 42.4% |
| 120-150k | 73 | 37.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 220 | 38.2% |
| 2022 | 152 | 42.1% |
| 2023 | 106 | 35.9% |
| 2024 | 82 | 37.8% |
| 2025 | 63 | 36.5% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Vanette
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 24.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (24.7% 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 (21.7% 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
How many 2001 Nissan Vanettes pass their MOT?
61.5% of the 623 2001 Nissan Vanette MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 38.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Nissan Vanette?
Suspension, recorded in 24.7% of tests, followed by brakes (21.7%).
Does the 2001 Vanette get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 34.0% in the 30-60k band to 37.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 623 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.