Nissan Almera MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics

Nissan Almera MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average

The Nissan Almera passed on its first attempt in 65.6%, and its overall record sits −7.9 percentage points below the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the Nissan Almera in the 2023–2025 data: 54,229 tests across 8 model years (2000–2007). A test still carries exactly one pass or fail verdict.

Figures are computed from every recorded DVSA test for this model in the 2023–2025 data.

Most Common Nissan Almera MOT Problems by Failure Category

Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the Nissan Almera, the Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment section leads the record — the breakdown below shows where the recorded failures cluster, then the exact strings behind the three biggest sections.

Shares are over the Nissan Almera's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.

Top Recorded Nissan Almera DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions

The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the Nissan Almera, each with how many of the model's 54,229 tests it was noted on.

• "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (Minor) — noted on about 3,929 Nissan Almera tests, 7.2% of the model's MOT record.
• "Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt" (Minor) — noted on about 3,693 Nissan Almera tests, 6.8% of the model's MOT record.
• "Headlamp lens slightly defective" (Minor) — noted on about 2,159 Nissan Almera tests, 4.0% of the model's MOT record.
• "Exhaust system has a major leak of exhaust gases" (Major) — noted on about 1,622 Nissan Almera tests, 3.0% of the model's MOT record.
• "Service brake performance excessively binding" (Major) — noted on about 1,486 Nissan Almera tests, 2.7% of the model's MOT record.
• "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" (Minor) — noted on about 1,440 Nissan Almera tests, 2.7% of the model's MOT record.

Best and Worst Nissan Almera Model Years by Pass Rate

The strongest Nissan Almera model year on record is 2001 (74.7% across 2,591 tests), and the weakest is 2000 (71.8%). The gap between them is 2.9 points. Years with fewer than 50 recorded tests are excluded, so these are the years with enough MOT history to mean something.

Newest model year first. Only years with at least 50 recorded tests are listed.

Pre-MOT Inspection Checklist for Nissan Almera Owners

These checks follow this Nissan Almera's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a Nissan Almera.

• the lights — “registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”

  Switch everything on and walk round the car: both headlamps on dip and main, every indicator, both brake lights, reverse, fog and the two number-plate lamps. A bulb is a few pounds and a five-minute job.

• the suspension joints — “track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated,”

  With the car parked on level ground, rock the top of each front wheel in and out while someone watches the suspension arm. Clunks, or rubber boots split and greasy, are what testers record here.

• the exhaust and emissions — “exhaust system has a major leak of exhaust gases”

  Listen for a blow at idle and have someone rev it gently. Then look at the tailpipe smoke: blue is oil, white when warm is coolant, black is over-fuelling. Any of those and the emissions test is the least of it.

Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the Nissan Almera. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions: Nissan Almera MOT & Reliability