Nissan Terrano
From 2,488 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 a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 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 a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 237 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 237 |
| 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 | 180 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 116 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 106 |
| 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 | 105 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 94 |
| a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 83 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 83 |
| body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point | 77 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 70 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 52.2% of Terrano failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 35% 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 £214.
Nissan Terrano on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 569 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 569. At this rate, roughly 9.7 years until none remain. Now at 18.9% of its peak (29,072 in 2005 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 851 | 4,635 | +0 | -54 | -54 |
| 2025 Q2 | 916 | 4,624 | +0 | -52 | -52 |
| 2025 Q1 | 969 | 4,623 | +0 | -179 | -179 |
| 2024 Q4 | 1,046 | 4,725 | +0 | -284 | -284 |
| 2024 Q3 | 1,123 | 4,932 | +0 | -150 | -150 |
| 2024 Q2 | 1,209 | 4,996 | +0 | -100 | -100 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,290 | 5,015 | +0 | -81 | -81 |
| 2023 Q4 | 1,364 | 5,022 | +0 | -95 | -95 |
5 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terrano Sve Td | Diesel | 161 | 33% |
| Terrano Se Td | Diesel | 144 | 30% |
| Terrano Td | Diesel | 65 | 14% |
| Terrano Sve Td Auto | Diesel | 58 | 12% |
| Terrano S Td | Diesel | 53 | 11% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 65.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 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 | 65.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2003 | 66.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 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 |
| 2002 | 65.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, exhaust system leaking or insecure |
2 earlier years
| 2001 | 78.9% | 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, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 1999 | 64.7% | body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point, 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 |
Typical mileage
Half of all Terranos tested had between 99,831 and 143,491 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 124,822 median miles, the Terrano has 0.027 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 Terrano MOT pass rate?
The Nissan Terrano has a 66.4% MOT pass rate based on 2,488 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Nissan Terrano?
The most common MOT failure on the Nissan Terrano is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 237 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 Terranos are on UK roads?
There are 851 Nissan Terranos currently licensed on UK roads, with 4,635 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Nissan Terrano at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Nissan Terrano is 124,822 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 99,831 and 143,491 miles.
Buying a used Terrano?
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 66.4% pass rate and an average repair bill of £214 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 52.2% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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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.