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Reliability
Are Nissans reliable? Common problems, MOT data, and full history checks for used Nissan vehicles.
67.4% MOT pass rate based on 1.6 million tests.
Common faults and reliability ranked across 23 Nissan models.
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Are Nissan cars reliable?
Nissan vs other premium brands
Nissan vehicles pass their MOT at 67.4%, about four and a half points below the national average of 71.9%. Toyota (74.6%), Volkswagen (72.8%), and Ford (68.5%) all outperform Nissan, with only Vauxhall (65.4%) and Renault (62.0%) trailing.
The Nissan range is dominated by the Qashqai, which alone accounts for 516,000 MOT tests. Together with the Juke and Micra, these three models make up more than three in five of all Nissan tests in Great Britain. All three pass below the national average. The Leaf electric car passes at 79%, a clear outlier among the popular models.
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 just above the national average at age 3 (87.7% vs 87.5%), then slip below from age 4. The gap stays at about four points from age 8 to 10, then widens sharply from age 11. At age 12, Nissans pass at 54.9% vs 64.1% nationally, a nine-point gap. The gap narrows slowly after that, but Nissans stay below national through the older bands.
By age 20, Nissans pass at 54.3% vs 56.9% nationally. The drop-off around ages 11 and 12 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 the share of failed tests they were found on. 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.
- Not working (found on 19.86% of failed Nissan tests)
A lamp, indicator, or electrical component that has completely stopped functioning. Usually a blown bulb or faulty sensor.
- Ball joint excessively worn (found on 19.17% of failed Nissan tests)
A suspension ball joint has developed too much play. Affects steering feel and handling; needs replacement.
- Ball joint has excessive play (found on 10.59% of failed Nissan tests)
- Fractured or broken (found on 8.67% of failed Nissan tests)
A suspension arm, spring, or bracket has snapped or cracked. The affected part must be replaced before the vehicle is roadworthy.
- Less than 1.5 mm thick (found on 8.52% of failed Nissan tests)
A brake pad measured below the minimum safe thickness of 1.5mm. Immediate replacement required to maintain braking performance.
Nissan's failure profile is heavily skewed toward suspension and steering. Suspension faults are found on 41.7% of failed Nissan tests vs 32.4% nationally, and steering faults on 13.4% vs 7.1%. Ball joint wear is a common individual fault, found on over 19% of failed Nissan tests. Lamps and electrical faults are found on 35.6% of failed tests, lower than the national 38.2%.
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 71.9%. Red bars sit below it.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Qashqai | 516,078 | 66.4% | Suspension |
| Nissan Juke | 260,068 | 65.4% | Suspension |
| Nissan Micra | 228,081 | 62.9% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Nissan Note | 141,962 | 62.9% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Nissan X-Trail | 82,721 | 68.8% | Suspension |
| Nissan Navara | 65,613 | 66.5% | Suspension |
| Nissan Leaf | 46,678 | 79.4% | Suspension |
| Nissan Nv200 | 23,736 | 54.5% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Nissan Pulsar | 20,186 | 70.5% | Suspension |
| Nissan Elgrand | 12,998 | 66.3% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Nissan Juke N-Connecta Dig-T | 12,635 | 87.5% | Visibility |
| Nissan Qashqai N-Connecta Dig-T Mhev | 11,409 | 88.1% | Tyres |
| Nissan Almera | 10,855 | 55.3% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Nissan Pixo | 10,411 | 63.4% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Nissan Juke N-Connecta Dig-T S-A | 8,482 | 88.0% | Visibility |
Among the popular models, the Leaf electric car leads at 79.4%, well above the national average. The Pulsar (70.5%) and X-Trail (68.8%) sit a little below national. The Qashqai (66.4%) and Juke (65.4%) are Nissan's highest-volume models but both sit below national. The older Micra (62.9%) and Note (62.9%) sit lower still, and the Primastar van at 47.4% 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 30,000 miles vs 34,000 nationally. By age 10 the gap is 77,000 vs 83,000. By age 20 Nissans average 96,000 miles vs 109,000 nationally, a gap of about 13,500 miles.
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 data, 2025, Great Britain (published June 2026). First MOT test of the year for each class 4 vehicle, with 5,000+ tests per model. Published under Open Government Licence v3.0.