2013 · 11 years old at test · Mixed fuel mostly

2013 Nissan Leaf MOT pass rate and common faults

1,228 MOT tests in 2024. 59.1% passed first time, compared with 66.8% for all cars the same age.

88Well below average
Passed first time59.1%
Failed or needed repairs40.9%
Typical mileage at test66,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,228 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn12.6%
  2. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play10.5%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.6%
  4. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn4.4%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm4.1%
    69 marked dangerous
  6. Position lamp: not working3.0%
  7. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.0%
    31 marked dangerous
  8. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.9%
    33 marked dangerous
  9. Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side1.6%
  10. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.6%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension29.8%
  2. Brakes13.2%
  3. Steering12.2%
  4. Lights & electrics9.8%
  5. Tyres8.5%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.4%
  7. Body & chassis1.1%
  8. Seat belts & airbags0.6%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm20.3%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened13.6%
  3. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play11.3%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn9.6%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick8.9%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2013 Nissan Leaf?

In 2024, 59.1% of 2013 Nissan Leaf cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,228 tests. The average for all 11-year-old cars was 66.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2013 Nissan Leaf?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; track rod end: ball joint has excessive play; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2013 Nissan Leaf reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 88, which is well below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).