MOT data
Nissan Primera MOT fail rate by age and year
DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 11,060 MOT tests · Updated
At 18 years, 45.6% of Nissan Primera MOT tests ended in a fail (adjusted to typical mileage), against 44.1% for all class 4 vehicles tested at 18 (2,243 MOT tests) [1].
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- Mileage: median 93,936 miles at 18 years against 105,218 for all class 4 vehicles, 2,243 MOT tests
- Before the mileage adjustment: 44.8% of MOT tests at 18 years ended in a fail, 2,243 MOT tests
- All ages: 11,060 MOT tests from 2022 to 2025, ages 17 to 22
Which engine and year a car has decides which of these apply. Check the reg first.
Figures are for the model, not one car, and compare with all class 4 vehicles tested at 18 in the same test year.
- Fail rate at 18 years, typical mileage
- 45.6%
- vs 44.1% for all class 4 vehicles tested at 18
- 2,243 MOT tests
- Fail rate at 18 years, raw
- 44.8%
- vs 44.1% for all class 4 vehicles tested at 18
- 2,243 MOT tests
- Median mileage at 18 years
- 93,936 mi
- vs 105,218 mi for all class 4 vehicles
- 2,243 MOT tests
Nissan Primera MOT fail rate by age
Each line follows the cars first used in one year across the ages they were tested at from 2022 to 2025, so a line never mixes a 2005 car with a 2015 one. 11k DVSA MOT tests in all (11,060).
| Age | Raw | Typical mileage | All class 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 43.7% | 45.2% | 44.0% |
| 18 | 44.8% | 45.6% | 44.1% |
| 19* | 44.6% | 46.6% | 43.6% |
| 20* | 45.9% | 47.4% | 43.1% |
| 21* | 42.5% | 43.4% | 42.4% |
| 22* | 44.9% | 46.8% | 41.3% |
* Over 18 years: only survivors are still tested at this age, so these rates describe the cars that are left.
About average: 44.8% raw · 45.6% at typical mileage, against 44.1% for all class 4 vehicles tested at 18, 2,243 MOT tests. Which years? See the full verdict
What fails on a Nissan Primera at 18 years
No part fails clearly more or less often than on cars the same age at 3 or more ages up to 18 years, so each is shown as about average.
| Part | Per 100 | All class 4 | Compared | Most common fail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lights and electrics | 27.0 | 21.4 | about average for cars the same age | |
| Brakes | 14.3 | 12.9 | about average for cars the same age | |
| Suspension | 13.4 | 17.2 | about average for cars the same age | |
| Body and structure | 7.9 | 8.7 | about average for cars the same age | |
| Tyres | 7.9 | 7.0 | about average for cars the same age | |
| Visibility | 7.4 | 7.3 | about average for cars the same age |
Buying a Nissan Primera? Check that exact car before the viewing.
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- Model risks for this year and fuel
- What similar cars did at their next MOT
- Repairs ahead
- Viewing checklist
Check one Nissan Primera, not the average
The figures here describe Nissan Primera cars as a group. A registration shows one car's own DVSA record: its MOT tests, the mileage at each test and the recall flag.
- Check a Nissan Primera's MOT history Every MOT test, fail item, advisory and mileage reading DVSA holds for that registration.
- Mileage check on a Nissan Primera The odometer reading from each MOT, with drops, jumps and long gaps flagged.
- Check a Nissan Primera for an outstanding recall Whether DVSA's MOT record flags an outstanding safety recall for that registration.
More Nissan Primera data
Mileage at MOT
At 18 years, 44.8% of MOT tests ended in a fail as tested. Weighted to the mileage mix of all class 4 vehicles that age, the rate is 45.6%, so mileage explains part of the gap.
| Miles | MOT tests | Nissan Primera | All class 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 303 | 36.6% | 32.9% |
| 60-90k | 684 | 44.4% | 41.7% |
| 90-120k | 672 | 45.7% | 46.3% |
| 120-150k | 367 | 50.1% | 47.5% |
| 150k+ | 181 | 52.5% | 46.8% |
Nissan Primera recalls
4 DVSA recalls list this model by name [2]. Vehicles are DVSA's count of affected Nissan Primera vehicles. The latest:
- R/2003/170 Also covers the Nissan Primera: Engine may stall (111,831 vehicles of this model), built Jan 1999 to Sep 2002. From the recall's stated risk: “A concern has been identified with the engine angle and position sensors of the engine management system If ignored it could cause the engine to stall…”
- R/2002/151 Also covers the Nissan Primera: Possible deflation of front left hand tyre (2,758 vehicles of this model). From the recall's stated risk: “A conveyor used during vehicle manufacturing may have damaged the front left hand tyre.”
- R/2001/154 Also covers the Nissan Primera: Engine may stall (40,455 vehicles of this model), built Mar 2000 to Jul 2001. From the recall's stated risk: “A concern has been identified affecting 1.5 1.6 and 1.8 petrol engine crankshaft and camshaft position sensors (a common part).”
Ask the seller for proof the work was done. Check any car on GOV.UK
Nissan Primera against similar cars at 18 years
Same class and fuel, all tested at 18 years, at typical mileage.
| Model | Fail rate | 95% range | MOT tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Primera | 45.6% | 43.3% to 47.9% | 2,243 |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT fail rate | 40.0% | 39.5% to 40.5% | 43,299 |
| Saab 9-3 MOT fail rate | 38.5% | 37.8% to 39.3% | 19,101 |
| Toyota Avensis MOT fail rate | 39.5% | 38.7% to 40.2% | 17,800 |
| Vauxhall Vectra MOT fail rate | 44.0% | 43.2% to 44.8% | 16,043 |
| Honda Accord MOT fail rate | 39.8% | 38.8% to 40.8% | 12,319 |
| Lexus IS MOT fail rate | 30.5% | 29.6% to 31.5% | 9,398 |
| Jaguar S-Type MOT fail rate | 37.8% | 36.6% to 39.0% | 7,774 |
| Jaguar XJ MOT fail rate | 29.9% | 28.8% to 31.1% | 5,998 |
Other Nissan models
More Nissan Primera data
Years
Running costs
By part
- Nissan Primera suspension problems
- Nissan Primera brakes problems
- Nissan Primera lights and electrics problems
- Nissan Primera steering problems
- Nissan Primera body and structure problems
- Nissan Primera exhaust and emissions problems
- Nissan Primera seat belts and airbags problems
- Nissan Primera windscreen and wipers problems
- Nissan Primera tyres problems
Questions people ask
How often does a Nissan Primera fail its MOT at 18 years?
45.6% of MOT tests at 18 years ended in a fail at typical mileage (44.8% as tested), from 2,243 MOT tests, against 44.1% for all class 4 vehicles the same age; the Mercedes-Benz C-Class was at 40.0%.
What fails most on a Nissan Primera at 18 years?
27.0 in 100 MOT tests at 18 years failed on lights and electrics, then brakes (14.3) and suspension (13.4), from 2,243 MOT tests.
How does the Nissan Primera compare with the Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
At 18 years the Nissan Primera failed 45.6% of MOT tests at typical mileage, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class 40.0% and the Saab 9-3 38.5%, from 2,243, 43,299 and 19,101 MOT tests.
Sources
- Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 11,060 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
- Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Vehicle safety recalls data. DVSA recall data. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
Cars tested at 18 years are compared only with vehicles tested at 18 years in the same year, adjusted to typical mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data.