Nissan Figaro: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Nissan Figaro fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 10.2 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 2,456 individual Nissan Figaro tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 66.5% first-time pass rate means roughly 34 in every 100 Nissan Figaros 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 Figaro tested had covered 93,508 miles and was built around 2002.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Nissan Figaro sits 10.2 points below the national average, ranked 1,839 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 Figaro 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 Figaros at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Nissan Figaro

1. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 4.9% of tests (18.36x the national rate for this defect)
2. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 5.5% of tests (13.34x the national rate for this defect)
3. 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, 11.2% of tests (11.85x the national rate for this defect)
4. Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point, 2.4% of tests (10.52x the national rate for this defect)
5. 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, 4.5% of tests (10.22x the national rate for this defect)
6. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 3.6% of tests (10.16x the national rate for this defect)
7. 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., 4.3% of tests (8.21x the national rate for this defect)
8. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 4.4% of tests (5.87x the national rate for this defect)
9. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.4% of tests (3.27x the national rate for this defect)
10. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 5.4% of tests (3.2x the national rate for this defect)

From 2,448 DVSA-tracked Nissan Figaro tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.06% of these flagged Nissan Figaro defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Nissan Figaro

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 Figaro before it actually fails on it.

1. Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning, 8.8% of tests (36.54x the national rate for this advisory)
2. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 6.4% of tests (5.12x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 19.2% of tests (4.06x the national rate for this advisory)
4. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 2.2% of tests (4.01x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 19.6% of tests (3.53x the national rate for this advisory)
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, 5.2% of tests (3.44x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
7. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 20.3% of tests (3.27x the national rate for this advisory)
8. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 5.3% of tests (2.64x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
9. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 5.9% of tests (2.07x the national rate for this advisory)
10. A tyre seriously damaged, 21.4% of tests (1.39x the national rate for this advisory)

From 2,448 DVSA-tracked Nissan Figaro tests, 2024.

Nissan Figaro 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 Figaro year:

• 1991 Nissan Figaro - 65.6% first-time pass, 752 tests
• 2005 Nissan Figaro - 69.9% first-time pass, 229 tests
• 2006 Nissan Figaro - 63.3% first-time pass, 215 tests
• 2007 Nissan Figaro - 67.5% first-time pass, 249 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

• Fiat Coupe - 66.7%
• Toyota Celica - 66.6%
• Fiat 500 L - 66.5%
• Peugeot E7 - 66.5%
• Vauxhall Movano - 66.4%
• Alfa Romeo Gtv - 66.4%

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