2018 Nissan Leaf MOT pass rate: 86.8% (14,797 tests)
Is the 2018 Leaf getting worse?
Pass rate of 2018-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 89.6% +1.5 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 87.3% +1.1 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 83.3% -1.5 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 2018 Leaf
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 1,179 | 35.2% |
| 2 | Suspension | 730 | 21.8% |
| 3 | Brakes | 634 | 19.0% |
| 4 | Visibility | 379 | 11.3% |
| 5 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 275 | 8.2% |
| 6 | Body, chassis, structure | 53 | 1.6% |
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 | 14,629 | 82.8% | -1.2 pts | 46,270 |
| 2018 (this page) | 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 2018 Nissan Leaf reliable?
2018-registered examples passed 86.8% of their MOT tests (14,797 tests, 2023–2025), +0.4 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 8 years old with a median 44,050 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2018 Leaf?
The median tested example shows 44,050 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.