Nissan Cube: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Nissan Cube fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 4.9 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 2,843 individual Nissan Cube tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 71.8% first-time pass rate means roughly 28 in every 100 Nissan Cubes 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 Cube tested had covered 88,035 miles and was built around 2010.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Nissan Cube sits 4.9 points below the national average, ranked 1,712 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 Cube 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 Cubes at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Nissan Cube

1. Front or rear fog lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 1.7% of tests (38.13x the national rate for this defect)
2. An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.9% of tests (6.49x the national rate for this defect)
3. Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle., 1.7% of tests (3.17x the national rate for this defect)
4. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 5.4% of tests (2.4x the national rate for this defect)
5. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 11.4% of tests (2.26x the national rate for this defect)
6. 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, 1.8% of tests (1.9x the national rate for this defect)
7. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 1.7% of tests (1.64x the national rate for this defect)
8. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 2.9% of tests (1.54x the national rate for this defect)
9. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 2.9% of tests (1.36x the national rate for this defect)
10. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 2.1% of tests (1.25x the national rate for this defect)

From 2,839 DVSA-tracked Nissan Cube tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.18% of these flagged Nissan Cube defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Nissan Cube

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 Cube before it actually fails on it.

1. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 4.1% of tests (3.72x 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, 4.1% of tests (2.67x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 2% of tests (2.37x the national rate for this advisory)
4. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 2.7% of tests (2.18x the national rate for this advisory)
5. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 24.1% of tests (1.81x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
6. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 6.1% of tests (1.28x the national rate for this advisory)
7. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 3.4% of tests (1.2x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 22.3% of tests
9. A tyre seriously damaged, 16.5% of tests
10. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 11.3% of tests

From 2,839 DVSA-tracked Nissan Cube tests, 2024.

Nissan Cube 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 Cube year:

• 2007 Nissan Cube - 76.5% first-time pass, 204 tests
• 2008 Nissan Cube - 77% first-time pass, 235 tests
• 2010 Nissan Cube - 66.4% first-time pass, 944 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

• Abarth 500 - 71.9%
• Nissan Juke - 71.8%
• Nissan Elgrand - 71.8%
• Ford Fiesta - 71.7%
• Nissan Micra - 71.7%
• Chrysler Crossfire - 71.7%

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