MOT failure data · 2025

Nissan Pulsar MOT problems

Across every Nissan Pulsar that failed its 2025 MOT, the defect testers recorded most often was ball joint ball joint excessively worn, on 13.07% of failure items. The broadest problem area was suspension at 33.28%. These are recorded defects across the model, not a diagnosis of any one car.

Most common Nissan Pulsar MOT failures

#	Recorded defect	Area	Share
1	Ball joint ball joint excessively worn	Suspension	13.07%
2	Coil spring fractured or broken	Suspension	11.54%
3	Track rod end ball joint has excessive play	Steering	8.29%
4	Brake pads less than 1.5 mm thick	Brakes	7.47%
5	Tread depth tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	Tyres	6.24%
6	Position lamp not working	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	3.03%
7	Rigid brake pipes excessively corroded	Brakes	2.89%
8	Pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn	Suspension	2.82%
9	Malfunction indicator lamp inoperative or indicates a malfunction	Noise, emissions and leaks	2.62%
10	Condition has ply or cords exposed	Tyres	2.33%

Shares are of all recorded failure items for this model, so they sum to less than 100% — a single failed test often records several defects, and the long tail below the top 10 is not shown.

What this means if you are buying one

Use it as a viewing checklist. If you are looking at a Nissan Pulsar, these are the areas worth inspecting and worth asking about — and worth reading the car's own MOT history for, since a defect that keeps reappearing as an advisory is a better signal than any model-wide average.

The MOT record also has hard limits: it does not check the engine, clutch or gearbox, and it says nothing about outstanding finance, insurance write-off history, stolen markers or whether the mileage is genuine. Our used Nissan Pulsar buying guide covers what to check beyond the MOT.

Checking a specific Nissan Pulsar?

Enter its registration for finance, write-off, stolen, mileage and keeper history.

Other Nissan models

Nissan Pulsar MOT FAQs

What does a Nissan Pulsar most commonly fail its MOT on?

The single most recorded defect on Nissan Pulsar cars failing their 2025 MOT was "ball joint ball joint excessively worn", appearing on 13.07% of failure items.

Does this mean my Nissan Pulsar will fail?

No. This is what testers recorded across every Nissan Pulsar that failed in 2025. It shows where this model tends to need attention, not the condition of any individual car. The Nissan Pulsar passed 74.15% of its initial tests.

How do I see a specific Nissan Pulsar's MOT history?

Enter its registration on our free MOT history check to see that car's own test results, advisories and recorded mileages.

Defect counts from the DVSA MOT Anonymised test-item data for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, failure items only — advisories and minor defects excluded), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.