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Reliability
Are Nissans reliable? Common problems, MOT data, and full history checks for used Nissan vehicles.
67.7% MOT pass rate based on 1.5 million tests.
Common faults and reliability ranked across 23 Nissan models.
Full vehicle history checks for £9.99 with no subscription.
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Are Nissan cars reliable?
Nissan vs other premium brands
Nissan vehicles pass their MOT at 67.7%, almost five points below the national average of 72.4%. Toyota (75.0%), Volkswagen (72.9%), and Ford (68.7%) all outperform Nissan, with only Vauxhall (65.7%) and Renault (62.4%) trailing.
The Nissan range is dominated by the Qashqai, which alone accounts for 482,000 MOT tests. Together with the Juke and Micra, these three models make up close to two-thirds of all UK Nissan tests. All three pass below the national average. The Leaf electric car passes at 80%, a clear outlier at the top of the range.
Reliability data shows part of the picture. A vehicle history check reveals the rest, including outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, and mileage discrepancies.
What is the Nissan MOT pass rate by age?
Pass rate at each vehicle age, from 3 to 20 years old. National average shown for comparison.
Nissan pass rates start above the national average at age 3 (90.6% vs 88.5%), then converge and slip below by age 5. From age 8 onward the gap widens sharply. At age 12, Nissans pass at 56.3% vs 65.7% nationally, a nine-point gap that persists through the older bands.
By age 20, Nissans pass at 54.1% vs 57.6% nationally. The age-12 drop-off aligns with when Qashqai and Juke suspension components typically reach the end of their service life without preventative replacement.
What are the most common Nissan faults?
Top 10 MOT failure categories for Nissan, ranked by frequency. National percentage shown alongside.
Top 5 specific Nissan failure reasons
These are the specific MOT examiner findings most frequently recorded on Nissan vehicles, along with what they mean.
- Ball joint excessively worn (8.10% of Nissan failures)
A suspension ball joint has developed too much play. Affects steering feel and handling; needs replacement.
- Not working (6.50% of Nissan failures)
A lamp, indicator, or electrical component that has completely stopped functioning. Usually a blown bulb or faulty sensor.
- Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (4.35% of Nissan failures)
The rubber boot protecting a suspension ball joint has cracked or split, letting dirt into the joint. Common on older cars.
- Ball joint has excessive play (4.23% of Nissan failures)
- Pin or bush excessively worn (3.82% of Nissan failures)
The metal pins or rubber bushes that connect suspension components have worn past their safe tolerance, creating play in the joint.
Nissan's failure profile is heavily skewed toward suspension and steering. Suspension accounts for 26.0% of Nissan failures vs 20.7% nationally, and steering makes up 8.3% vs 4.9%. The single most common individual fault is ball joint wear, which appears in over 8% of all Nissan failures. Lamps and electrical failures at 21.8% are lower than the national 24.6%.
Which Nissan models are most reliable?
Top 15 Nissan models ranked by MOT test volume. Pass rate shown for each. Green bars beat the national average of 72.4%. Red bars sit below it.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Qashqai | 481,869 | 66.7% | Suspension |
| Nissan Juke | 241,303 | 65.7% | Suspension |
| Nissan Micra | 210,170 | 63.2% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Nissan Note | 131,113 | 63.0% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Nissan X-Trail | 77,458 | 69.2% | Suspension |
| Nissan Navara | 61,719 | 66.8% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Nissan Leaf | 43,561 | 79.6% | Suspension |
| Nissan Nv200 | 22,029 | 55.1% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Nissan Pulsar | 18,578 | 70.6% | Suspension |
| Nissan Elgrand | 12,286 | 66.8% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Nissan Juke N-Connecta Dig-T | 11,607 | 87.8% | Visibility |
| Nissan Qashqai N-Connecta Dig-T Mhev | 10,723 | 88.3% | Visibility |
| Nissan Almera | 10,062 | 55.6% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Nissan Pixo | 9,568 | 63.6% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Nissan Juke N-Connecta Dig-T S-A | 7,902 | 87.8% | Visibility |
The Leaf electric car leads at 79.6%, well above the national average. The Pulsar (70.6%) and X-Trail (69.2%) also perform well. The Qashqai (66.7%) and Juke (65.7%) are Nissan's highest-volume models but both sit below national. The older Micra (63.2%) and Note (63.0%) pull the low end, and the Primastar van at 48.2% is the weakest performer in the range.
How many miles do Nissan vehicles typically cover?
Average recorded mileage at each MOT test, by vehicle age. National average shown for comparison.
Nissan vehicles cover less mileage than the national average at every age. At age 3, Nissans average 24,000 miles vs 28,000 nationally. By age 10 the gap is 74,000 vs 80,000. By age 20 Nissans average 98,000 miles vs 111,000 nationally, a 13,000-mile gap.
Our Premium Vehicle Reports compare the recorded mileage at every MOT test to flag discrepancies. A drop in recorded mileage between two tests is a strong signal that the odometer may have been tampered with.
Are there any Nissan safety recalls?
Safety recalls are issued by Nissan when a manufacturing defect could affect the safety of the vehicle. The DVSA records every UK recall and links it to affected vehicle identification numbers (VINs). Recalls are free for the owner to have fixed at a franchised dealer.
Recall lists change over time as new issues are identified and old ones are resolved. For that reason we do not maintain a static list here. When you check a Nissan via Brumble, the report shows any outstanding manufacturer safety recalls that still need action on that specific vehicle.
How do you check a Nissan's full history?
Before you buy any used Nissan, a full history check protects you from problems that a physical inspection would miss. Here is what a Premium Vehicle Report from Brumble covers.
Has this Nissan been written off?
An insurance write-off means the car has been declared uneconomical to repair after an accident, fire, or flood. The report shows the category (Cat A, B, N, or S), the date, and the cause. Cat A and B are permanently unroadworthy. Cat N and S can legally return to the road but often carry hidden damage and are worth significantly less.
Is there outstanding finance on this Nissan?
If the previous owner has an active HP, PCP, or loan agreement secured against the car, the finance company legally owns it until the balance is paid off. Buying a car with outstanding finance means the finance company can repossess it, even after you have paid the seller in full. The report checks with Experian for any active finance agreements.
Has this Nissan been reported stolen?
The Police National Computer records stolen vehicles. The report checks the PNC for any active stolen marker. Buying a stolen vehicle means the police can seize it and return it to the rightful owner, with no compensation.
Has the mileage been tampered with?
Every MOT test records the current mileage. The report shows the full mileage history from every recorded test and flags any drops or unusually flat periods. A drop between tests is a strong signal the odometer has been clocked. A car worth £15,000 with 60,000 miles on the clock might be worth £10,000 if the true mileage is 120,000.
Has this Nissan been used as a taxi or private hire vehicle?
Ex-taxis and private hire vehicles have typically covered high mileage under harder use than a private car of the same age. Insurers may view them as higher risk, and resale value is significantly lower. The report checks whether the vehicle has ever been registered as a taxi or private hire vehicle.
What is this Nissan worth?
The report includes current trade, retail, and private-sale valuations based on the vehicle's make, model, trim, mileage, and condition. Use it to check whether the asking price is fair before you negotiate.
Check any Nissan's full history for £9.99. No subscription.
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What should you check before buying a used Nissan?
Four practical steps before you hand over any money.
- 1
Check the MOT history
Every UK vehicle has a free MOT test history showing every pass, fail, advisory, and recorded mileage. Use the Brumble MOT checker to see what previous inspections found.
- 2
Check the vehicle's full history
A Premium Vehicle Report covers outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, mileage discrepancies, safety recalls, and valuation. £9.99, no subscription.
- 3
Compare insurance before you commit
Nissan insurance groups vary widely by model and trim. Get a car insurance quote before you buy to avoid nasty surprises after the sale.
- 4
Check the tax status
Confirm the car is currently taxed, or you may not be able to drive it away. The Brumble tax checker shows current tax status and when tax is next due.
Nissan Reliability FAQs
Source: Brumble analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2025 test year (published June 2026). Class 3 and 4 vehicles with 5,000+ tests per model. Published under Open Government Licence v3.0.