Nissan March
From 768 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated, an obligatory rear fog lamp missing and or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning. The top issue, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, caused 14 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.
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 14 |
| a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated | 14 |
| 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 | 12 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 9 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 9 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 8 |
| front or rear fog lamp switch inoperative or not operating in accordance with the requirements | 7 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 7 |
| a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 6 |
| headlamp reflector or lens seriously defective or missing | 6 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. Only 26.1% of March failures are serious (safety or roadside), below the 44.4% average. When this car fails its MOT, it's more likely to be lights, wipers, or emissions than something dangerous. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £64.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 91.1% | a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 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 |
| 2012 | 91.7% | 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 rear fog lamp adversely affected by the operation of any other lamp |
| 2011 | 80.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, headlamp reflector or lens seriously defective or missing |
Typical mileage
Half of all Marchs tested had between 26,000 and 47,842 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 34,402 median miles, the March has 0.037 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 March MOT pass rate?
The Nissan March has a 87.1% MOT pass rate based on 768 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Nissan March?
The most common MOT failure on the Nissan March is the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, which caused 14 failures. Other common issues include a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated.
What is the typical mileage of a Nissan March at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Nissan March is 34,402 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 26,000 and 47,842 miles.
Buying a used March?
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.
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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.