Nissan Pulsar MOT pass rate: 74.1% (20,806 tests, 2025)

The Nissan Pulsar passed 74.1% of its 20,806 MOT tests in 2025 — 3.4 points below the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 9 years old with 60,966 miles on the clock.

74.1%Pass rate (2025)

20,806MOT tests analysed

60,966 miMedian mileage at test

9 yrsMedian age at test

How the Pulsar compares

Nissan Pulsar

74.1%

UK average (all Class 4 vehicles)

77.5% across 33.1 million tests

Nissan average (all models)

73.3%

What fails most on the Nissan Pulsar

Across failed and rectified tests in 2025, these vehicle systems produced the most defects on the Pulsar:

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Suspension	3,811	33.9%
2	Brakes	2,460	21.9%
3	Tyres	1,671	14.9%
4	Steering	1,090	9.7%
5	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	1,083	9.6%
6	Noise, emissions and leaks	555	4.9%

Pre-MOT checklist for Pulsar owners

Based on the failure profile above, ten minutes with a torch before your test removes the most likely fail items:

Bounce each corner and listen for clonks over speed bumps — suspension is this model’s (and the UK’s) top failure system
Feel for a spongy pedal or pulling to one side; check pad wear through the wheel spokes if visible
Check tread with the 20p test and inspect sidewalls for cracking — tyres close to the limit are the country’s most common advisory
With the engine running, turn lock to lock: knocks or stiff spots are testable defects
Walk round with all lights on: one blown bulb is the most avoidable fail there is

Check the engine before the tester does

A stored fault code with the engine light on is an automatic Major defect. Scan and clear resolved faults before booking.

Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers

Pulsar pass rate by registration year

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2014	3,898	66.9%	-9.0 pts	69,182
2015	22,123	71.5%	-7.2 pts	62,200
2016	18,272	77.5%	-3.8 pts	54,209
2017	12,153	82.6%	-1.4 pts	45,101
2018	5,925	86.7%	+0.3 pts	35,896

Check a specific Pulsar before you buy

Pass rates describe the model; they can’t tell you about the one car you’re looking at. Run its plate through our free MOT history check to see its personal record of failures, advisories and mileage readings.

Other Nissan models

Qashqai71.4% pass rate · 537,795 tests Juke70.8% pass rate · 269,741 tests Micra71.5% pass rate · 234,974 tests Note71.9% pass rate · 146,455 tests X-Trail72.9% pass rate · 86,582 tests Navara72.4% pass rate · 68,836 tests Leaf82.6% pass rate · 49,067 tests NV20064.8% pass rate · 24,653 tests

FAQs

What is the MOT pass rate for a Nissan Pulsar?

In 2025, 74.1% of 20,806 first MOT tests on the Nissan Pulsar were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the Pulsar fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is suspension (33.9% of its recorded defects), followed by brakes.

Is the Nissan Pulsar reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 74.1% it performs below the national average at a median age of 9 years and 60,966 miles. Always check the individual car's history too.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 extract (Class 4 initial tests only; retests excluded). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures rounded to one decimal place.