Nissan Silvia: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Nissan Silvia passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 9.6 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 511 individual Nissan Silvia tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 86.3% first-time pass rate means roughly 14 in every 100 Nissan Silvias presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Nissan Silvia tested had covered 93,837 miles and was built around 2003.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Nissan Silvia sits 9.6 points above the national average, ranked 1,157 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

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 Silvia 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 Silvias at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Nissan Silvia

1. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 3.5% of tests (1.5x the national rate for this defect)
2. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 2.3% of tests (6.62x the national rate for this defect)
3. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2% of tests (2.98x the national rate for this defect)
4. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 1.8% of tests
5. Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, 1.6% of tests (3.06x the national rate for this defect)
6. 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, 1.6% of tests (3.55x the national rate for this defect)
7. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 1.6% of tests (2.1x the national rate for this defect)
8. Audible warning inoperative, 1.4% of tests (4.85x the national rate for this defect)
9. Service brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 1.4% of tests (6.41x the national rate for this defect)
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint likely to become detached, 1.2% of tests (4.94x the national rate for this defect)

From 512 DVSA-tracked Nissan Silvia tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.31% of these flagged Nissan Silvia defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Nissan Silvia

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 Silvia before it actually fails on it.

1. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 15.4% of tests
2. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 7.8% of tests
3. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 5.5% of tests
4. A tyre seriously damaged, 5.5% of tests
5. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 5.3% of tests
6. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 3.3% of tests
7. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 3.1% of tests
8. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 3.1% of tests
9. Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted, 2.5% of tests (41.5x the national rate for this advisory)
10. A wheel bearing with excessive play, 2.3% of tests (3.61x the national rate for this advisory)

From 512 DVSA-tracked Nissan Silvia tests, 2024.

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

• Volvo Xc90 Inscription B5 Mhev Awd A - 86.3%
• Volvo Xc90 Inscrp Pro T8rchrge Awd A - 86.3%
• Lexus Rx 450h F Sport Cvt - 86.3%
• Vauxhall Viva - 86.2%
• BMW X4 - 86.2%
• Fiat Unclassified - 86.2%

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