MOT fail rates
Nissan Pulsar MOT fail rate by age
How often the Nissan Pulsar fails its MOT at each age, compared with all cars of the same age, and what it fails on. From 84,984 DVSA MOT tests taken 2022 to 2025.
MOT data updated
At 7 years, the most tested age
227 of 330 model groups with enough tests fail less often at 7 years.
What stands out
- At 4 years the Nissan Pulsar fails 11.0% of MOTs (2,048 tests), 2.3 points below the 13.4% for all cars that age. At 11 years it fails 37.6% (1,299 tests), 4.4 points above the 33.3% average.
- The gap is widest at 11 years: 4.4 points above all cars.
- Its most common structural or mechanical fail item at 7 years: Suspension ball joint worn, at 4.4 per 100 MOTs.
MOT fail rate by age
Solid line: this model. Dashed line: all cars at the same age.
| Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 years | 11.0% | 2,048 | 13.4% | −2.3 pts | 23,531 miles |
| 5 years | 12.9% | 6,150 | 15.3% | −2.4 pts | 31,382 miles |
| 6 years | 17.8% | 12,458 | 17.8% | 0.0 pts | 39,555 miles |
| 7 years | 23.0% | 20,087 | 20.6% | +2.3 pts | 47,625 miles |
| 8 years | 27.3% | 19,277 | 23.8% | +3.5 pts | 54,779 miles |
| 9 years | 31.3% | 15,024 | 27.1% | +4.2 pts | 61,701 miles |
| 10 years | 34.1% | 8,641 | 30.3% | +3.8 pts | 68,314 miles |
| 11 years | 37.6% | 1,299 | 33.3% | +4.4 pts | 75,122 miles |
Most common fail items at 7 years
Split into structural or mechanical items and wear items. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
Structural and mechanical
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs |
|---|---|
| Suspension ball joint worn Major | 4.4 |
| Coil spring broken Major | 3.5 |
| Steering track rod end: ball joint play Major | 2.4 |
Out of 20,087 MOTs. A test with two faults counts twice.
Wear and upkeep
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs |
|---|---|
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Dangerous | 4 |
| Brake pads under 1.5 mm Dangerous | 3.8 |
| Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Major | 1.2 |
| Side/position light not working Major | 1.2 |
| Headlamp aim: too low Major | 1.2 |
| Tyre with cords exposed Dangerous | 0.9 |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Major | 0.9 |
Out of 20,087 MOTs. A test with two faults counts twice.
Other models at 7 years
| Model | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Qashqai | 20.2% | 222,364 | 20.6% |
| Nissan Juke | 22.4% | 137,280 | 20.6% |
| Nissan X-Trail | 22.4% | 49,463 | 20.6% |
MOT fail rate by first-use year
Each year has its own page: the fail rate for cars first used that year at each MOT from 2022 to 2025 with at least 1,000 tests, the most common faults at that age, and the car tax and ULEZ rules for that year.
First-use year data updated .
More on the Nissan Pulsar
Looking at one Nissan Pulsar?
These are figures for the model, not for one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at a single car: its MOT tests, defects, advisories and mileage readings.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 22 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources