MOT fail rates by first-use year
2014 Nissan Pulsar MOT fail rate and common faults
How Nissan Pulsar cars first used in 2014 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 5,299 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 11 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 11 years old, Nissan Pulsar cars first used in 2014 failed 37.6% of MOTs (1,298 tests), 4.3 points above the 33.3% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 8 to 11 years old, the fail rate moved from 31.2% to 37.6%.
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Nissan Pulsar at 11 years, is suspension ball joint worn, at 10.0 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 2.1).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 8 years | 31.2% | 1,351 | 23.8% | +7.4 pts |
| 2023 | 9 years | 34.7% | 1,339 | 27.1% | +7.6 pts |
| 2024 | 10 years | 37.1% | 1,311 | 30.3% | +6.8 pts |
| 2025 | 11 years | 37.6% | 1,298 | 33.3% | +4.3 pts |
Most common faults at 11 years
These figures cover all Nissan Pulsar MOTs at 11 years: cars first used in 2014, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=1,299). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
MOT fail items
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension ball joint worn | 10.0 | 2.1 |
| Coil spring broken | 9.5 | 3.6 |
| Steering track rod end: ball joint play | 7.4 | 1.6 |
| Brake pads under 1.5 mm Wear | 3.8 | 2.1 |
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear | 3.5 | 2.8 |
| Side/position light not working Wear | 3.2 | 3.2 |
| Suspension arm bush worn | 2.3 | 1.7 |
| Tyre with cords exposed Wear | 2.2 | 1.6 |
| Anti-roll bar link worn | 2.2 | 0.8 |
| Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded | 2.1 | 0.6 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=1,299). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 17.4 | 17.6 |
| Brake pads wearing thin Wear | 13.5 | 7.8 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 11.2 | 10.0 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 9.9 | 8.7 |
| Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement | 9.9 | 6.6 |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | 8.9 | 3.7 |
| Suspension ball joint: slight play | 5.2 | 1.7 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 4.2 | 4.6 |
| Coil spring: corroded | 4.0 | 3.8 |
| Track rod end ball joint: slight play | 3.5 | 1.4 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=1,299). A test with two items counts once for each.
Car tax rules for a 2014 car
- Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.
These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check
ULEZ and clean air zones
- Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
- Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2014 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
- The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.
The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker
Other years of the Nissan Pulsar
Other Nissan models first used in 2014
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Qashqai (2014) | 11 years in 2025 | 34.9% | 43,852 | 33.3% |
| Nissan Juke (2014) | 11 years in 2025 | 40.7% | 36,103 | 33.3% |
| Nissan Note (2014) | 11 years in 2025 | 27.7% | 21,867 | 33.3% |
| Nissan Micra (2014) | 11 years in 2025 | 30.8% | 14,059 | 33.3% |
| Nissan X-Trail (2014) | 11 years in 2025 | 37.1% | 3,829 | 33.3% |
| Nissan Navara (2014) | 11 years in 2025 | 40.9% | 3,387 | 33.3% |
| Nissan Leaf (2014) | 11 years in 2025 | 39.5% | 2,973 | 33.3% |
More on the Nissan Pulsar
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2014 Nissan Pulsar cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.
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 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources
Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.