2017 Nissan Leaf MOT pass rate: 82.8% (14,629 tests)
Is the 2017 Leaf getting worse?
Pass rate of 2017-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 86.2% +0.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 82.3% -1.6 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 79.9% -2.5 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2017 Leaf
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 1,381 | 29.9% |
| 2 | Brakes | 1,159 | 25.1% |
| 3 | Suspension | 1,030 | 22.3% |
| 4 | Visibility | 485 | 10.5% |
| 5 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 377 | 8.2% |
| 6 | Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 58 | 1.3% |
All Leaf years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 3,674 | 63.2% | -10.1 pts | 67,035 |
| 2014 | 8,950 | 66.7% | -9.1 pts | 61,980 |
| 2015 | 11,823 | 71.0% | -7.7 pts | 54,768 |
| 2016 | 11,742 | 75.4% | -5.9 pts | 54,228 |
| 2017 (this page) | 14,629 | 82.8% | -1.2 pts | 46,270 |
| 2018 | 14,797 | 86.8% | +0.4 pts | 44,050 |
| 2019 | 14,493 | 89.5% | +1.1 pts | 34,266 |
| 2020 | 20,931 | 91.0% | +1.1 pts | 27,495 |
| 2021 | 14,270 | 92.3% | +1.9 pts | 24,284 |
| 2022 | 7,498 | 93.4% | +2.2 pts | 19,779 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Nissan Leaf years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2017 Nissan Leaf reliable?
2017-registered examples passed 82.8% of their MOT tests (14,629 tests, 2023–2025), -1.2 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 9 years old with a median 46,270 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2017 Leaf?
The median tested example shows 46,270 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.