2011 · 13 years old at test · Mixed fuel mostly

2011 Nissan Leaf MOT pass rate and common faults

438 MOT tests in 2024. 66.7% passed first time, compared with 61.8% for all cars the same age.

108Above average
Passed first time66.7%
Failed or needed repairs33.3%
Typical mileage at test61,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 438 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play8.4%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn8.0%
  3. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn4.1%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.4%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure3.0%
    17 marked dangerous
  6. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.5%
  7. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.8%
  8. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.8%
    12 marked dangerous
  9. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength1.6%
  10. Electronic stability control: warning lamp indicates a fault1.6%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Suspension22.4%
  2. Steering10.3%
  3. Lights & electrics10.3%
  4. Brakes9.6%
  5. Tyres7.5%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.5%
  7. Body & chassis0.9%
  8. Seat belts & airbags0.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm13.9%
  2. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure11.9%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick11.4%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened11.2%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn10.0%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: track rod end: ball joint has excessive play. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

All Leaf years2012 Leaf →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2011 Nissan Leaf?

In 2024, 66.7% of 2011 Nissan Leaf cars passed their MOT first time, across 438 tests. The average for all 13-year-old cars was 61.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2011 Nissan Leaf?

The most common failure reasons were track rod end: ball joint has excessive play; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2011 Nissan Leaf reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 108, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).