Nissan Pulsar MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 19,343 class-4 normal initial MOT tests in 2024, 73.4% passed without an initial fail or PRS repair — above the 71.2% UK average. Pass rate moves with age: 74% of cars aged 6–9 years passed first time, against 63% aged 10–14 years.
Checking a Nissan Pulsar?
Model-level statistics cannot reveal the condition or provenance of one car.
Check its registration free for the actual MOT, tax and mileage record. Before buying, the optional £9.99 full history check adds outstanding-finance, stolen and insurance write-off checks.
Pass rate by vehicle age
| Age | Tests | Initial pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 6–9 years | 18,103 | 74% |
| 10–14 years | 1,187 | 63% |
Common initial failure categories
These are the items that most often caused a Nissan Pulsar to fail its first test, with what each one usually means for a buyer.
- Suspension Arms — 7% of tests. Worn arms or bushes. A common age-related repair that affects handling and tyre wear.
- Springs — 3.8% of tests. A broken or sagging coil spring. Replaced in pairs, so it is not the cheapest failure.
- Steering Linkage Components — 3.7% of tests. Worn track rod ends or joints. Affects steering and tyre wear, and is a normal age-related repair.
- Mechanical Brake Components — 3.6% of tests. Worn discs, pads or callipers. Routine wear, but it should be priced into the deal.
- Condition — 3.3% of tests. Corrosion, damage or wear on a tested component. Worth seeing in person, as the cost ranges from trivial to structural.
- Tread Depth — 3.1% of tests. Tyres below the 1.6mm legal limit. Budget for tyres, and treat it as a sign of how the car was maintained.
What this does and does not tell you
A pass rate describes how a population of cars behaved on test day. It says nothing about how one car was driven, serviced or repaired, and an MOT does not cover the engine, clutch or gearbox at all.
Use it to know what to look for: if tyres and brakes dominate the list, price those in; if corrosion or suspension appears, get underneath the car. Then check the individual vehicle — its MOT history shows whether these same items have been advised year after year, and its mileage record shows whether the reading is consistent.
How many Nissan Pulsar are left?
At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 20,394 licensed and 408 SORN vehicles in the Nissan Pulsar generic-model group.
Licensed and SORN trend for the Nissan Pulsar
Before you buy
- Suspension Arms — 7% of tests in 2024. Worn arms or bushes. A common age-related repair that affects handling and tyre wear.
- Springs — 3.8% of tests in 2024. A broken or sagging coil spring. Replaced in pairs, so it is not the cheapest failure.
- Steering Linkage Components — 3.7% of tests in 2024. Worn track rod ends or joints. Affects steering and tyre wear, and is a normal age-related repair.
- Mechanical Brake Components — 3.6% of tests in 2024. Worn discs, pads or callipers. Routine wear, but it should be priced into the deal.
- Check the actual Pulsar — These figures describe the model group. Enter the registration for that vehicle's free MOT, tax and mileage record before you pay a deposit.
Other Nissan models
- Nissan Qashqai — 68.8% pass
- Nissan Micra — 63.9% pass
- Nissan Juke — 67.5% pass
- Nissan Note — 63.3% pass
- Nissan X-trail — 70.6% pass
- Nissan Navara — 68.1% pass
See every Nissan model MOT pass rate
Common questions
What is the Nissan Pulsar MOT pass rate?
73.4% of 19,343 class-4 initial MOT tests on the Nissan Pulsar passed first time in 2024 — above the 71.2% UK average.
Why does the Pulsar fail its MOT?
The most common initial failure categories are suspension arms (7% of tests), springs (3.8% of tests), steering linkage components (3.7% of tests), mechanical brake components (3.6% of tests).
How many Nissan Pulsar are left in the UK?
20,394 were licensed and 408 were SORN at the end of 2026 Q1, according to DfT and DVLA statistics for this generic-model group.
Does this tell me whether one particular Pulsar is a good buy?
No. These are population statistics. Enter that car's registration for its own MOT, tax and mileage record, then check outstanding finance, write-off and stolen markers before buying.
Methodology and limitations
MOT outcomes describe testable items at the time of inspection. They are not a measure of overall mechanical reliability.
Scope: Class 4 normal initial MOT tests completed in 2024. Models require at least 1,000 qualifying tests. Duplicate source rows are removed using official DVSA test IDs.
Source: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published 2025-05-23 under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Check the actual car
Enter the registration for that car's own free MOT, tax and mileage record. Before money changes hands, the £9.99 full history check adds outstanding finance, insurance write-off and stolen checks.