Petrol Nissan Pulsar: MOT pass rate

80.8% of petrol Nissan Pulsars pass the MOT first time, measured across 14,664 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 51,688.

Petrol against the other Nissan Pulsar versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Petrol cars avoid the DPF and emissions failures that catch diesels, and usually fail on the same consumables as any other car.

On the Nissan Pulsar specifically, petrol is the strongest at 80.8%, and this petrol version sits 4.4 points above the 76.4% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The petrol Nissan Pulsar is the stronger side of this model on MOT data. Still judge the individual car, but the fuel type is a mild point in its favour. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average petrol Nissan Pulsar had covered 51,688 miles at test, against 76,803 for the diesel. That is around average, so condition and service history will tell you more than the odometer does.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Nissan Pulsar page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a petrol Nissan Pulsar

1. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 2.9% of tests (2.2x the national rate for this defect)
2. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 3% of tests (1.39x the national rate for this defect)
3. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 2.9% of tests (1.26x the national rate for this defect)
4. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 5.7% of tests
5. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3.4% of tests
6. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.1% of tests
7. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.3% of tests
8. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.2% of tests
9. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 1.1% of tests
10. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 1% of tests

From 14,714 DVSA-tracked petrol Nissan Pulsar tests, 2024, split out from the Nissan Pulsar's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 6.76% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a petrol Nissan Pulsar

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 16.8% of tests (1.8x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 1.7% of tests (1.35x the national rate for this defect)
3. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 25.2% of tests, also fails
4. A tyre seriously damaged, 15.2% of tests, also fails
5. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 13.1% of tests, also fails
6. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 9.1% of tests
7. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 4.1% of tests, also fails
8. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 3.5% of tests
9. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 2.5% of tests
10. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 1.5% of tests, also fails

From 14,714 DVSA-tracked petrol Nissan Pulsar tests, 2024.

Other Nissan Pulsar fuel types

• Diesel Nissan Pulsar - 66.4%

All Nissan Pulsar MOT data · Every model