Nissan Interstar
VanFrom 1,562 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 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 and steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. The top issue, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, caused 119 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 119 |
| 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 | 110 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 82 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 74 |
| parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value | 65 |
| parking brake inoperative on one side | 65 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 63 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 61 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 59 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 54 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 41.8% of Interstar failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 32.3% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £158.
Nissan Interstar on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 1,797 newly registered in the past year with 163 leaving, a net gain of 1,634. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 7,497 | 483 | +634 | -41 | +593 |
| 2025 Q2 | 6,907 | 480 | +584 | -24 | +560 |
| 2025 Q1 | 6,349 | 478 | +472 | -53 | +419 |
| 2024 Q4 | 5,935 | 473 | +107 | -45 | +62 |
| 2024 Q3 | 5,897 | 449 | +300 | -37 | +263 |
| 2024 Q2 | 5,649 | 434 | +538 | -0 | +543 |
| 2024 Q1 | 5,082 | 458 | +812 | -94 | +718 |
| 2023 Q4 | 4,352 | 470 | +322 | -28 | +294 |
8 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interstar Tekna Dci | Diesel | 4,072 | 56% |
| Interstar Acenta Dci | Diesel | 2,541 | 35% |
| Interstar 100 Se Mwb | Diesel | 158 | 2% |
| Interstar Tekna + Dci | Diesel | 99 | 1% |
| Interstar 120 Se Lwb | Diesel | 96 | 1% |
| Interstar Se Dci100 Mwb | Diesel | 89 | 1% |
| Interstar Tekna Dci Auto | Diesel | 85 | 1% |
| Interstar 120 Se Mwb | Diesel | 70 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 63.2% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value |
| 2009 | 62.5% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value |
| 2008 | 66.7% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, parking brake inoperative on one side |
| 2007 | 58.4% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
3 earlier years
| 2006 | 58% | 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, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2005 | 61.5% | 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, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2004 | 63.4% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 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 |
Typical mileage
Half of all Interstars tested had between 102,527 and 161,078 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 133,340 median miles, the Interstar has 0.028 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 Interstar MOT pass rate?
The Nissan Interstar has a 62.5% MOT pass rate based on 1,562 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Nissan Interstar?
The most common MOT failure on the Nissan Interstar is parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, which caused 119 failures. Other common issues include 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.
How many Nissan Interstars are on UK roads?
There are 7,497 Nissan Interstars currently licensed on UK roads, with 483 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Nissan Interstar at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Nissan Interstar is 133,340 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 102,527 and 161,078 miles.
Buying a used Interstar?
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 62.5% pass rate and an average repair bill of £158 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 41.8% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
Van insurance works differently to car insurance. Make sure you're comparing like-for-like quotes for your use case. Compare van insurance.
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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.