Nissan Primera Activ MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 1,970 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 43.7%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Nissan Primera Activ MOT Reliability Overview
The Nissan Primera Activ is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,970 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 56.3% and a failure rate of 43.7%, which is slightly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Nissan Primera Activ earns a "Below Average" reliability rating. The average Nissan Primera Activ presents for MOT with approximately 84,881 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2002 models achieve the highest pass rate at 60.9%, while 2001 models have the lowest at 54.4%. This 6.5 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Nissan Primera Activ is Brakes, affecting 37.0% 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 Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment at 31.2%. Tyres rounds out the top three at 16.5%. 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
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
📉 How Age Affects Reliability
MOT failure rate by vehicle age for the Nissan Primera Activ. The dashed red line marks when the manufacturer warranty typically expires (3 years).
Line chart showing MOT failure rate by vehicle age from 7 to 14 years, with warranty expiry marked at 3 years.
💡 What does the warranty cliff mean?
The Nissan Primera Activ shows a relatively stable failure rate after warranty — the change of 0% is negligible. Peak failure occurs at age 13 (52.9% fail rate).
Note: pass rates may improve for very old vehicles due to survivorship bias — only well-maintained cars remain on the road.
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 | Brakes | 55.7% | 1,098 |
| 2 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 42.4% | 835 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.5% | 444 |
| 4 | Suspension | 18.8% | 370 |
| 5 | Driver's View Of The Road | 14.3% | 281 |
| 6 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 14.0% | 276 |
| 7 | Body, Structure And General Items | 5.3% | 105 |
| 8 | Steering | 3.9% | 76 |
| 9 | Registration Plates And Vin | 2.6% | 52 |
| 10 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 2.1% | 42 |
| 11 | Items Not Tested | 1.6% | 32 |
| 12 | Non-component Advisories | 0.5% | 10 |
| 13 | Road Wheels | 0.5% | 10 |
| 14 | Towbars | 0.1% | 2 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 84,881 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 6.57 | 55.7% | 1,098 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 4.99 | 42.4% | 835 |
| Tyres | 2.66 | 22.5% | 444 |
| Suspension | 2.21 | 18.8% | 370 |
| Visibility | 1.68 | 14.3% | 281 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 1.65 | 14.0% | 276 |
| Body & Structure | 0.63 | 5.3% | 105 |
| Steering | 0.45 | 3.9% | 76 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.31 | 2.6% | 52 |
| Seat Belts | 0.25 | 2.1% | 42 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.19 | 1.6% | 32 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.06 | 0.5% | 10 |
| Wheels | 0.06 | 0.5% | 10 |
| Towbars | 0.01 | 0.1% | 2 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Nissan Primera Activ has 84,881 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 Primera Activ has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 5.15% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Nissan Primera Activ MOT Data
The Nissan Primera Activ is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,970 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 56.3% and a failure rate of 43.7%, which is slightly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Nissan Primera Activ owners, these results suggest average reliability — some preparation before MOT can improve pass chances. Focus your pre-MOT checks on brakes and lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 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 Primera Activ is likely to perform.
Brakes — 37.0% of failures
Brakes issues account for 37.0% of MOT failures on the Nissan Primera Activ. 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).
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.2% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 31.2% of MOT failures on the Nissan Primera Activ. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Tyres — 16.5% of failures
Tyres issues account for 16.5% of MOT failures on the Nissan Primera Activ. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Nissan Primera Activ?
Based on 1,970 MOT tests in our database, the Nissan Primera Activ has an overall pass rate of 56.3% (43.7% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Nissan Primera Activ?
The top 3 reasons a Nissan Primera Activ fails its MOT are: 1. Brakes (37.0%), 2. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (31.2%), 3. Tyres (16.5%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Nissan Primera Activ reliable?
With a 43.7% MOT failure rate, the Primera Activ is about average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Nissan Primera Activ?
Based on failure data, focus on: Brakes (37.0%); Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (31.2%); Tyres (16.5%). 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.