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. The Nissan 350 Z sits 0.3 points below the national average, ranked 1,576 of 2,005 models. On one bought as 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 recorded closing bids for damaged Nissan 350 Z at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Nissan 350 Z

1. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 3.8% of tests (10.83x the national rate for this defect)
2. Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, 2.8% of tests (10.24x the national rate for this defect)
3. Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, 3.1% of tests (6.09x the national rate for this defect)
4. An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction, 2.2% of tests (5.28x the national rate for this defect)
5. Emissions test unable to be completed, 1.5% of tests (3.76x the national rate for this defect)
6. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 3.1% of tests (2.94x 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, 2.5% of tests (2.64x the national rate for this defect)
8. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 4.7% of tests (1.99x the national rate for this defect)
9. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 3.1% of tests (1.85x the national rate for this defect)
10. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 2.3% of tests (1.79x the national rate for this defect)

From 5,246 DVSA-tracked Nissan 350 Z tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.57% of these flagged Nissan 350 Z defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Nissan 350 Z

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Nissan 350 Z before it actually fails on it.

1. Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted, 2.2% of tests (35.21x the national rate for this advisory)
2. 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, 6.1% of tests (3.99x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 24.2% of tests (3.91x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
4. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 4% of tests (3.19x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 3.5% of tests (3.12x the national rate for this advisory)
6. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 3.1% of tests (2.44x the national rate for this advisory)
7. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 9.9% of tests (2.09x the national rate for this advisory)
8. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 4.9% of tests (1.71x the national rate for this advisory)
9. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 8.7% of tests (1.68x the national rate for this advisory)
10. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 27.3% of tests

From 5,246 DVSA-tracked Nissan 350 Z tests, 2024.

Nissan 350 Z pass rate by model year

From its 2003 to its 2008 model year, the Nissan 350 Z's first-time pass rate has risen 1 points, from 76% to 77%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. 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
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate