Nissan Primera
From 6,197 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Older Primeras fare better: 2006 models pass at 63.8% vs 72.3% for 1998.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are 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 pin, bush or joint excessively worn and the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. The top issue, 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, caused 355 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| 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 | 355 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 338 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 310 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 182 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 165 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 163 |
| stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 154 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 147 |
| headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective | 144 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 144 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 24.6% of Primera failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 30.8% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £124.
Nissan Primera on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 1,086 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 1 newly registered, a net loss of 1,085. At this rate, roughly 7.4 years until none remain. Now at 3.8% of its peak (208,784 in 2003 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 2,231 | 5,745 | +1 | -174 | -173 |
| 2025 Q2 | 2,374 | 5,775 | +0 | -169 | -169 |
| 2025 Q1 | 2,526 | 5,792 | +0 | -345 | -345 |
| 2024 Q4 | 2,725 | 5,938 | +0 | -398 | -398 |
| 2024 Q3 | 2,959 | 6,102 | +0 | -313 | -313 |
| 2024 Q2 | 3,197 | 6,177 | +0 | -202 | -202 |
| 2024 Q1 | 3,401 | 6,175 | +0 | -227 | -227 |
| 2023 Q4 | 3,612 | 6,191 | +0 | -244 | -244 |
12 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primera S | Petrol | 441 | 27% |
| Primera Se | Petrol | 282 | 17% |
| Primera Sx | Gas | 229 | 14% |
| Primera Sve | Gas | 126 | 8% |
| Primera Flare | Petrol | 95 | 6% |
| Primera Gt | Petrol | 91 | 6% |
| Primera Se Auto | Petrol | 83 | 5% |
| Primera S Auto | Petrol | 70 | 4% |
| Primera Sve Cvt | Petrol | 62 | 4% |
| Primera Activ | Gas | 55 | 3% |
| Primera Gx | Petrol | 52 | 3% |
| Primera T-Spec Cvt | Petrol | 52 | 3% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 63.8% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2005 | 63.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2004 | 67.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2003 | 65.2% | 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 pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
6 earlier years
| 2002 | 61.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2001 | 66.8% | 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, body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point |
| 2000 | 60.9% | 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, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 1999 | 65.6% | 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, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1998 | 72.3% | 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 pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 1997 | 69.9% | 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 transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
Typical mileage
Half of all Primeras tested had between 72,921 and 120,365 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 96,146 median miles, the Primera has 0.036 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 Primera MOT pass rate?
The Nissan Primera has a 65.7% MOT pass rate based on 6,197 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Nissan Primera?
The most common MOT failure on the Nissan Primera is 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, which caused 355 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Nissan Primeras are on UK roads?
There are 2,231 Nissan Primeras currently licensed on UK roads, with 5,745 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Nissan Primera at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Nissan Primera is 96,146 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 72,921 and 120,365 miles.
Buying a used Primera?
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 65.7% pass rate and an average repair bill of £124 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
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.