Nissan Skyline
From 4,050 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 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, emissions levels exceed default limits, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame and spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired. The top issue, 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, caused 55 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| 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 | 55 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 52 |
| 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 | 51 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 48 |
| emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 39 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 37 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 36 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 33 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 32 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 30 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. Only 21.1% of Skyline 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 £108.
Nissan Skyline on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 50 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 45 newly registered, a net loss of 5.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 567 | 1,238 | +12 | -0 | +15 |
| 2025 Q2 | 575 | 1,215 | +9 | -0 | +13 |
| 2025 Q1 | 466 | 1,311 | +8 | -0 | +8 |
| 2024 Q4 | 445 | 1,324 | +16 | -50 | -34 |
| 2024 Q3 | 561 | 1,242 | +9 | -8 | +1 |
| 2024 Q2 | 577 | 1,225 | +8 | -0 | +31 |
| 2024 Q1 | 479 | 1,292 | +8 | -33 | -25 |
| 2023 Q4 | 452 | 1,344 | +9 | -16 | -7 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 82.5% | a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led, 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 | 89.3% | emissions levels exceed default limits, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits |
| 2008 | 92.9% | 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, service brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2007 | 85.9% | 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, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
10 earlier years
| 2006 | 90% | emissions levels exceed default limits, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2005 | 84.5% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 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 |
| 2004 | 92.7% | a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2003 | 83.7% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 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 |
| 2000 | 91.5% | lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits |
| 1999 | 91% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 1998 | 91.6% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits |
| 1997 | 88.9% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 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 |
| 1996 | 86.8% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 50% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on a steered axle |
| 1995 | 82% | 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, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits |
Typical mileage
Half of all Skylines tested had between 58,762 and 107,548 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 79,636 median miles, the Skyline has 0.014 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 Skyline MOT pass rate?
The Nissan Skyline has a 88.6% MOT pass rate based on 4,050 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Nissan Skyline?
The most common MOT failure on the Nissan Skyline is 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, which caused 55 failures. Other common issues include emissions levels exceed default limits.
How many Nissan Skylines are on UK roads?
There are 567 Nissan Skylines currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,238 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Nissan Skyline at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Nissan Skyline is 79,636 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 58,762 and 107,548 miles.
Buying a used Skyline?
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.