In 2025, 20,882 Nissan Pulsar cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 71% passed first time, compared with 75% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the Pulsar about average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 178 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 7 years old, 79% of Pulsars passed first time (all cars that age: 81%). By 11 years, that figure is 62% (all cars: 69%). It trails the average car at most ages, most noticeably at 11 years (6 points behind).
Nissan Pulsar All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | Pulsar passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 years | 2,001 | 79% | 81% | 46,061 |
| 8 years | 4,089 | 76% | 78% | 54,971 |
| 9 years | 6,105 | 71% | 75% | 64,559 |
| 10 years | 7,300 | 66% | 72% | 71,459 |
| 11 years | 1,296 | 62% | 69% | 77,923 |
What fails most on a Nissan Pulsar
The area that lets the Pulsar down most, relative to other cars, is steering: 5.2% of tests failed on it, 2.4 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on body and structure and visibility.
Share of Pulsar tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 9.7% |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | Suspension | 6.4% |
| A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | Steering | 4.6% |
| A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | Brakes | 4.2% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 3.6% |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | Lights and electrics | 2.5% |
What to check when buying a used Pulsar
Based on where the Pulsar fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Steering: Feel for play or knocking through the wheel, and check power-steering fluid isn’t leaking. More
- Suspension: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, look for leaking shock absorbers, and check the car sits level. Ask whether springs, bushes or drop links have been replaced. Repair guide
- Brakes: Look through the wheels for lipped or scored discs, check the handbrake holds on a slope, and feel for pulling or vibration under firm braking. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific Pulsar
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a PulsarFrequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Nissan Pulsar?
In 2025, 71% of Nissan Pulsar cars passed their MOT first time, across 20,882 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 75%.
What do Nissan Pulsar cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (9.7% of tests); a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened (6.4% of tests); a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play (4.6% of tests).
Other Nissan models
Nissan Qashqai (67%), Nissan Juke (66%), Nissan Micra (63%), Nissan Note (63%), Nissan X-Trail (69%), Nissan Navara (67%). All Nissan models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.