2008 Nissan Primastar MOT pass rate: 56.1% (2,609 tests)
Is the 2008 Primastar getting worse?
Pass rate of 2008-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 56.6% -8.7 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 54.7% -10.2 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 56.9% -8.3 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 2008 Primastar
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 1,259 | 26.1% |
| 2 | Suspension | 1,096 | 22.7% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1,024 | 21.2% |
| 4 | Steering | 403 | 8.4% |
| 5 | Body, chassis, structure | 294 | 6.1% |
| 6 | Visibility | 241 | 5.0% |
All Primastar years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 2,173 | 55.7% | -8.7 pts | 153,657 |
| 2005 | 2,866 | 54.5% | -10.0 pts | 145,254 |
| 2006 | 3,128 | 57.4% | -7.0 pts | 150,072 |
| 2007 | 3,850 | 56.1% | -9.1 pts | 145,748 |
| 2008 (this page) | 2,609 | 56.1% | -9.1 pts | 141,978 |
| 2009 | 2,213 | 55.8% | -10.6 pts | 137,976 |
| 2011 | 2,703 | 53.6% | -15.6 pts | 133,359 |
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FAQs
Is a 2008 Nissan Primastar reliable?
2008-registered examples passed 56.1% of their MOT tests (2,609 tests, 2023–2025), -9.1 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 18 years old with a median 141,978 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2008 Primastar?
The median tested example shows 141,978 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.