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Nissan 300 C Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Nissan 300 C car check

Is the Nissan 300 C reliable? We analysed 1,033 real MOT tests across 152 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,033 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
72.1%
Typical Mileage
104,112mi
Annual Mileage
1,198mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
41yrs

The Nissan 300 C is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Nissan 300 C.

Nissan 300 C Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Nissan 300 C. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Nissan 300 C MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Nissan 300 C to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

70.3%
1987
74.5%
1986
71.3%
1985

Nissan 300 C Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Nissan 300 C fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 96
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 52
Brake pipe excessively corroded 41
Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 38
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 27
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 26
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 26
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 24
Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 22
fog lamp not working 21

Nissan 300 C Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Nissan 300 C owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
375 mi/yr
Typical
1,198 mi/yr
Average
2,153 mi/yr
Heavy usage
3,164 mi/yr

Nissan 300 C MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Nissan 300 C year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1987 219 70.3% 73,612 122,246 151,921
1986 380 74.5% 69,887 104,128 127,803
1985 310 71.3% 69,783 98,450 133,117

How Long Does a Nissan 300 C Last?

Based on 152 Nissan 300 C vehicles on UK roads.

Average
24.9 years
Median
23.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
41 years

Nissan 300 C Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Nissan 300 C MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
104,112 mi
75th Percentile
132,878 mi
95th Percentile
197,189 mi
Max Recorded
984,583 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Nissan 300 C

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1986

74.5% MOT pass rate from 380 tests

Year to avoid
1987

70.3% MOT pass rate from 219 tests

The best year to buy a used Nissan 300 C is 1986, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 74.5% across 380 tests. The 1987 model year has the lowest pass rate at 70.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Nissan 300 C Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Nissan 300 C THIS CAR 72.1% 1,033 104,112 mi 41 yrs
Nissan Micra 71.4% 10,566,512 55,214 mi 37 yrs
Nissan Qashqai 77.3% 6,506,323 59,398 mi 19 yrs
Nissan Juke 79.3% 3,002,435 49,593 mi 16 yrs
Kawasaki EX500-A5 80.4% 904 27,935 mi 35 yrs

Compared to the Nissan Micra (71.4% pass rate) and the Nissan Qashqai (77.3% pass rate), the Nissan 300 C sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

Found a Nissan 300 C you like?

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Should you buy a used Nissan 300 C?

The Nissan 300 C has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.1% across 1,033 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Nissan 300 C are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (96 recorded failures), seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (52), and brake pipe excessively corroded (41). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Nissan 300 C owner drives around 1,198 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Nissan 300 C models stay on UK roads for around 41 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Nissan 300 C — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Nissan 300 C reliable?
Based on 1,033 MOT tests, the Nissan 300 C has a 72.1% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Nissan 300 C?
The most common MOT failures are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded, and brake pipe excessively corroded. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Nissan 300 C do per year?
The typical Nissan 300 C does around 1,198 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Nissan 300 C last?
Most Nissan 300 C models stay on UK roads for around 41 years based on our analysis of 152 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Nissan 300 C?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Nissan 300 C?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Nissan 300 C is 1986 with a 74.5% pass rate across 380 tests.