Nissan 350 Z: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Nissan 350 Z fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 0.3 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 5,182 individual Nissan 350 Z tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 76.4% first-time pass rate means roughly 24 in every 100 Nissan 350 Z presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average Nissan 350 Z tested had covered 84,484 miles and was built around 2006.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a Nissan 350 Z bought as a repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Nissan 350 Z rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see what damaged Nissan 350 Z actually sold for at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Nissan 350 Z

1. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 2.7% of tests (9.3x the national rate for this defect)
2. Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, 1.9% of tests (8.57x the national rate for this defect)
3. Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, 2.1% of tests (5.28x the national rate for this defect)
4. An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction, 1.4% of tests (4.58x the national rate for this defect)
5. Emissions test unable to be completed, 1% of tests (3.3x the national rate for this defect)
6. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 2.2% of tests (2.67x the national rate for this defect)
7. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 1.7% of tests (2.09x the national rate for this defect)
8. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 3.2% of tests (1.79x the national rate for this defect)
9. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 2% of tests (1.66x the national rate for this defect)
10. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 1.5% of tests (1.61x the national rate for this defect)

From 9,238 DVSA-tracked Nissan 350 Z tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.43% of these flagged Nissan 350 Z defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

Nissan 350 Z pass rate by model year

Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. First-time pass rate for each Nissan 350 Z year:

• 2003 Nissan 350 Z - 76% first-time pass, 341 tests
• 2004 Nissan 350 Z - 73.7% first-time pass, 1,128 tests
• 2005 Nissan 350 Z - 76.1% first-time pass, 1,161 tests
• 2006 Nissan 350 Z - 73.3% first-time pass, 809 tests
• 2007 Nissan 350 Z - 78.9% first-time pass, 634 tests
• 2008 Nissan 350 Z - 77% first-time pass, 379 tests

Other Nissan models

• Nissan Qashqai - 72.7%
• Nissan Juke - 71.8%
• Nissan Micra - 71.7%
• Nissan Note - 72.1%
• Nissan X-Trail - 73.5%
• Nissan Navara - 72.9%
• Nissan Leaf - 83.1%
• Nissan Nv200 - 65.1%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Peugeot 2008 - 76.4%
• BMW 120 - 76.4%
• Jaguar Xk8 - 76.4%
• Vauxhall Combo 2300 Sportive Td - 76.4%
• Audi A4 - 76.3%
• Lexus Rx400h - 76.3%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate