Nissan Cube
From 5,616 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Cubes fare better: 2020 models pass at 74.8% vs 72.2% for 2010.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning and wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 346 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 346 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 148 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 88 |
| an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 85 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 85 |
| headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective | 83 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 75 |
| a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated | 72 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 69 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 68 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 44.7% of failures are serious: 44.7% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 0% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £90.
Nissan Cube on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 37 newly registered in the past year with 15 leaving, a net gain of 22. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 1,102 | 111 | +8 | -2 | +6 |
| 2025 Q2 | 1,105 | 102 | +11 | -10 | +1 |
| 2025 Q1 | 1,101 | 105 | +6 | -3 | +3 |
| 2024 Q4 | 1,106 | 97 | +12 | -0 | +14 |
| 2024 Q3 | 1,093 | 96 | +17 | -0 | +23 |
| 2024 Q2 | 1,080 | 86 | +13 | -3 | +10 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,087 | 69 | +17 | -22 | -5 |
| 2023 Q4 | 1,091 | 70 | +22 | -9 | +13 |
5 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cube Kaizen | Petrol | 462 | 42% |
| Cube 16V | Petrol | 349 | 32% |
| Cube Kaizen Cvt | Petrol | 122 | 11% |
| Cube 16V Cvt | Petrol | 81 | 7% |
| Cube Ldn | Petrol | 79 | 7% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 74.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated |
| 2019 | 72.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2018 | 75.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 2017 | 71.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
14 earlier years
| 2016 | 70% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2015 | 78.3% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2014 | 70.5% | headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2013 | 94.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 2012 | 90.8% | an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2011 | 79.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. |
| 2010 | 72.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2009 | 80.6% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2008 | 80.5% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2007 | 83.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2006 | 75% | windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2005 | 80.7% | a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2004 | 71.4% | windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view, a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated |
| 2003 | 79.2% | tyre obviously under inflated, headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective |
Typical mileage
Half of all Cubes tested had between 63,010 and 118,549 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 86,533 median miles, the Cube has 0.026 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Nissan models
| Nissan Qashqai | 76.1% |
| Nissan Juke | 75.3% |
| Nissan Micra | 71.2% |
| Nissan Note | 70.9% |
| Nissan Navara | 77% |
Common questions
What is the Nissan Cube MOT pass rate?
The Nissan Cube has a 77.5% MOT pass rate based on 5,616 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Nissan Cube?
The most common MOT failure on the Nissan Cube is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 346 failures. Other common issues include a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning.
How many Nissan Cubes are on UK roads?
There are 1,102 Nissan Cubes currently licensed on UK roads, with 111 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Nissan Cube at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Nissan Cube is 86,533 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 63,010 and 118,549 miles.
Buying a used Cube?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 77.5% pass rate and an average repair bill of £90 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.