Nissan Skyline MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics

Nissan Skyline MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average

The Nissan Skyline passed on its first attempt in 88.5%, and its overall record sits +8.3 percentage points above the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the Nissan Skyline in the 2023–2025 data: 4,467 tests across 19 model years (2000–2020). 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 Skyline MOT Problems by Failure Category

Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the Nissan Skyline, 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 Skyline's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.

Top Recorded Nissan Skyline DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions

The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the Nissan Skyline, each with how many of the model's 4,467 tests it was noted on.

• "Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated" (Minor) — noted on about 122 Nissan Skyline tests, 2.7% of the model's MOT record.
• "Catalyst emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits" (Major) — noted on about 63 Nissan Skyline tests, 1.4% of the model's MOT record.
• "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" (Minor) — noted on about 56 Nissan Skyline tests, 1.3% of the model's MOT record.
• "Headlamp lens slightly defective" (Minor) — noted on about 53 Nissan Skyline tests, 1.2% of the model's MOT record.
• "Catalyst emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits" (Major) — noted on about 53 Nissan Skyline tests, 1.2% of the model's MOT record.
• "Rear fog lamp not working" (Major) — noted on about 52 Nissan Skyline tests, 1.2% of the model's MOT record.

Best and Worst Nissan Skyline Model Years by Pass Rate

The strongest Nissan Skyline model year on record is 2012 (100.0% across 52 tests), and the weakest is 2002 (84.8%). The gap between them is 15.2 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 Skyline Owners

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

• the suspension joints — “ball joint dust cover severely 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 — “catalyst emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits”

  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.

• the windscreen — “windscreen damaged”

  Check the driver’s side of the screen within the swept area for chips and cracks; anything larger than 10mm in the driver’s central view is a fail. Most chips can be resin-repaired for far less than a new screen.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Nissan Skyline MOT & Reliability