Nissan 280 Zx MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 376 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 32.2%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Nissan 280 Zx MOT Reliability Overview
The Nissan 280 Zx is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 376 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 5 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 67.8% and a failure rate of 32.2%, which is slightly above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Nissan 280 Zx earns a "Good" reliability rating. The average Nissan 280 Zx presents for MOT with approximately 71,737 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 1983 models achieve the highest pass rate at 75.7%, while 1979 models have the lowest at 66.7%. This 9.0 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Nissan 280 Zx is Brakes, affecting 42.6% of all tests. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. The second most common issue is Suspension at 41.8%. Steering rounds out the top three at 19.4%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 48.9% | 184 |
| 2 | Brakes | 48.1% | 181 |
| 3 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 38.0% | 143 |
| 4 | Steering | 21.8% | 82 |
| 5 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 14.1% | 53 |
| 6 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 12.8% | 48 |
| 7 | Tyres | 10.1% | 38 |
| 8 | Driver's View Of The Road | 9.3% | 35 |
| 9 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 7.4% | 28 |
| 10 | Body, Structure And General Items | 7.2% | 27 |
| 11 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 6.1% | 23 |
| 12 | Visibility | 4.0% | 15 |
| 13 | Non-component Advisories | 2.4% | 9 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 71,737 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 6.82 | 48.9% | 184 |
| Brakes | 6.71 | 48.1% | 181 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 5.30 | 38.0% | 143 |
| Steering | 3.04 | 21.8% | 82 |
| Body & Structure | 2.78 | 20.0% | 75 |
| Seat Belts | 1.96 | 14.1% | 53 |
| Visibility | 1.86 | 13.3% | 50 |
| Tyres | 1.41 | 10.1% | 38 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 1.04 | 7.4% | 28 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.85 | 6.1% | 23 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.33 | 2.4% | 9 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Nissan 280 Zx has 71,737 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Nissan 280 Zx has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 4.49% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Nissan 280 Zx MOT Data
The Nissan 280 Zx is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 376 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 5 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 67.8% and a failure rate of 32.2%, which is slightly above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Nissan 280 Zx owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on brakes and suspension for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific 280 Zx is likely to perform.
Brakes — 42.6% of failures
Brakes issues account for 42.6% of MOT failures on the Nissan 280 Zx. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Suspension — 41.8% of failures
Suspension issues account for 41.8% of MOT failures on the Nissan 280 Zx. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Steering — 19.4% of failures
Steering issues account for 19.4% of MOT failures on the Nissan 280 Zx. Steering failures include excessive play in the steering wheel, leaking power steering fluid, worn track rod ends, and damaged steering rack. These affect vehicle control and are closely related to suspension wear. Typical repair costs: £150–600. Pre-MOT check: Check for excessive steering wheel play (more than a few inches of free movement). Listen for whining from the power steering pump. Look for fluid leaks under the car near the front wheels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Nissan 280 Zx?
Based on 376 MOT tests in our database, the Nissan 280 Zx has an overall pass rate of 67.8% (32.2% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Nissan 280 Zx?
The top 3 reasons a Nissan 280 Zx fails its MOT are: 1. Brakes (42.6%), 2. Suspension (41.8%), 3. Steering (19.4%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Nissan 280 Zx reliable?
With a 32.2% MOT failure rate, the 280 Zx is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Nissan 280 Zx?
Based on failure data, focus on: Brakes (42.6%); Suspension (41.8%); Steering (19.4%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.