Pass rate, every year
72.8% Below average
10,226 tests across 7 model years, 2000–2006.
−8.2 pts vs the national average
Nissan Primera MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics
Best year to buy
2001 76.1%
The strongest of the 7 years on record. See the 2001 page →
Worst year to buy
2002 71.3%
4.8 points below the 2001 peak. See the 2002 page →
The Nissan Primera MOT pass rate is 72.8%, −8.2 percentage points below the UK average. That is 10,226 DVSA MOT tests recorded between 2000 and 2006. This page lists the most common Nissan Primera MOT failures by category, names the best and worst model years, and finishes with a pre-MOT checklist you can run at home.
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MOT pass rates are national — type your postcode to see how Nissan Primera MOT pass rates does in your corner of the country.
Nissan Primera MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average
The Nissan Primera passed on its first attempt in 65.2%, and its overall record sits −8.2 percentage points below the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the Nissan Primera in the 2023–2025 data: 10,226 tests across 7 model years (2000–2006). A test still carries exactly one pass or fail verdict.
| Measure | This model |
|---|---|
| Tests analysed | 10,226 |
| Overall pass rate | 72.8% |
| Passed on first attempt | 65.2% |
| Average mileage at test | 93,406 mi |
| Model years covered | 2000–2006 (7 years) |
| Versus UK national average | −8.2 pts below |
Figures are computed from every recorded DVSA test for this model in the 2023–2025 data.
Most Common Nissan Primera MOT Problems by Failure Category
Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the Nissan Primera, 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.
| Inspection section | Share of failures |
|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 63% |
| Suspension | 12% |
| Brakes | 9% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 7% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 5% |
| Visibility | 5% |
Shares are over the Nissan Primera's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
Around 63% of the recorded Nissan Primera failures fall in the Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Headlamp lens slightly defective" (6.6%), "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (4.0%), "Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect" (3.9%) among the Nissan Primera's lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment faults.
Suspension
Around 12% of the recorded Nissan Primera failures fall in the Suspension section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn" (2.2%), "Component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength" (1.1%), "Ball joint excessively worn" (1.0%) among the Nissan Primera's suspension faults.
Brakes
Around 9% of the recorded Nissan Primera failures fall in the Brakes section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Rbt (sp) efficiency below requirements" (3.0%), "Service brake performance excessively binding" (0.1%) among the Nissan Primera's brakes faults.
Top Recorded Nissan Primera DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions
The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the Nissan Primera, each with how many of the model's 10,226 tests it was noted on.
- "Headlamp lens slightly defective" (Minor) — noted on about 675 Nissan Primera tests, 6.6% of the model's MOT record.
- "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (Minor) — noted on about 410 Nissan Primera tests, 4.0% of the model's MOT record.
- "Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect" (Major) — noted on about 403 Nissan Primera tests, 3.9% of the model's MOT record.
- "Rbt (sp) efficiency below requirements" (Major) — noted on about 308 Nissan Primera tests, 3.0% of the model's MOT record.
- "Position lamp not working" (Major) — noted on about 285 Nissan Primera tests, 2.8% of the model's MOT record.
- "Stop lamp not working" (Major) — noted on about 247 Nissan Primera tests, 2.4% of the model's MOT record.
Best and Worst Nissan Primera Model Years by Pass Rate
The strongest Nissan Primera model year on record is 2001 (76.1% across 624 tests), and the weakest is 2002 (71.3%). The gap between them is 4.8 points. Years with fewer than 50 recorded tests are excluded, so these are the years with enough MOT history to mean something.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 Primera | 1,924 | 73.4% |
| 2005 Primera | 2,703 | 72.7% |
| 2004 Primera | 1,922 | 73.2% |
| 2003 Primera | 1,549 | 71.7% |
| 2002 Primera | 1,224 | 71.3% |
| 2001 Primera | 624 | 76.1% |
| 2000 Primera | 280 | 71.4% |
Newest model year first. Only years with at least 50 recorded tests are listed.
Pre-MOT Inspection Checklist for Nissan Primera Owners
These checks follow this Nissan Primera's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a Nissan Primera.
-
the lights — “headlamp lens slightly defective”
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 battery — “battery(ies) insecure”
Check the battery is secure and its terminals are clean and tight — a loose battery is a fail on its own, and a weak one shows up as slow cranking on a cold morning.
-
the suspension joints — “pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn”
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.
Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the Nissan Primera. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions: Nissan Primera MOT & Reliability
What is the Nissan Primera MOT pass rate?
72.8% of the 10,226 recorded Nissan Primera MOT tests ended in a pass, −8.2 percentage points below the national average. 65.2% of those passed on the first attempt.
Which Nissan Primera model years pass the MOT most often?
2001 is the strongest Nissan Primera year on record at 76.1%, while 2002 is the weakest at 71.3%. The year-by-year table below lists every model year with at least 50 recorded tests.
What are the most common Nissan Primera MOT failures?
The most recorded Nissan Primera failures are "Headlamp lens slightly defective" and "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" — together around 11% of tests, mostly in the Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment section.