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Nissan Pulsar steering problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 20,087 MOT tests · Updated

At 7 years, 2.4 in 100 MOT tests of the Nissan Pulsar failed on steering, against 0.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 20,087 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: fails 2.7–3.2× as often as all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 473 MOT tests with a fail
  • When it starts: clear of 1.2 times from 6 years and at every older age seen
  • Most common fail: Steering track rod end: ball joint play, 2.2 per 100 MOT tests

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

2.4 fails per 100 MOT tests at 7 years, against 0.8 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 7 (all test years). The Nissan Pulsar fails more often here.

Why it matters

A steering fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated major by DVSA.

What to check

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

Nissan Pulsar steering fails by age

Nissan Pulsar steering fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Nissan Pulsar. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.054 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.2), 2,048 MOT tests45 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 6,150 MOT tests56 years: 1.0 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 12,458 MOT tests67 years: 2.4 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 20,087 MOT tests78 years: 3.5 per 100 (all cars 1.2), 19,277 MOT tests89 years: 4.8 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 15,024 MOT tests910 years: 5.8 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 8,641 MOT tests1011 years: 8.2 per 100 (all cars 2.5), 1,299 MOT tests11
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Nissan Pulsar All class 4 vehicles the same age
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
42,0480.10.2
56,1500.30.3
612,4581.00.5
720,0872.40.8
819,2773.51.2
915,0244.81.8
108,6415.82.1
111,2998.22.5

All first-use years of the Nissan Pulsar pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years.

What fails in the steering at 7 years

Fails

  • Steering track rod end: ball joint play: 2.2 fails per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 0.4. Replace track rod end: estimated £54–£128 (0.5–1 h at £78/h (ONS local-garage repair quotes, 1,058 quotes from 65 garages, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026) + parts £15–£50) Track rod end ball joint has excessive play MOT fail

Advisories (not fails)

Replace track rod end cost

Repair figures are estimates, not quotes: how we estimate repair costs.

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
  • Viewing checklist

See a sample report

By engine and fuel

  • 1.2 petrol: 1.9 per 100 at 7 years, fails 2.0–2.6× as often as petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 13,457 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Track rod end: ball joint has slight play.

Check one Nissan Pulsar, not the average

The figures here describe Nissan Pulsar cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Nissan Pulsar problems

Steering on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Nissan Pulsar have more steering problems than other cars?

2.7 to 3.2 times the steering fail rate of all class 4 vehicles the same age at 7 years (all test years), from 20,087 MOT tests. The interval is clear of 1.2 in the same direction at 4 of the 8 ages seen (ages up to 18 with at least 100 MOT tests with a fail).

How common are Nissan Pulsar steering problems?

2.4 in 100 MOT tests at 7 years failed on steering, against 0.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 20,087 MOT tests).

What is the most common Nissan Pulsar steering fail?

2.2 in 100 MOT tests at 7 years: Steering track rod end: ball joint play (433 MOT tests with it).

At what age do Nissan Pulsar steering fails start?

6 years: from then on the rate stays clear of 1.2 times all class 4 vehicles the same age at every age seen, 76,786 MOT tests.

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 84,984 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
  2. Office for National Statistics, Consumer price inflation, local price quotes (car repair items). ONS price quotes, series 610236. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare