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Nissan Almera Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Nissan Almera car check

Is the Nissan Almera reliable? We analysed 2,976,239 real MOT tests across 231,560 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,976,239 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
71.1%
Typical Mileage
67,265mi
Annual Mileage
5,550mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
30yrs

The Nissan Almera is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Nissan Almera.

Nissan Almera Number Plates

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

Nissan Almera MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

73.7%
2009
72.1%
2007
74.9%
2006
73.7%
2005
74.2%
2004
73.4%
2003
71.5%
2002
70.7%
2001
68.9%
2000
67.7%
1999
67%
1998
65.7%
1997
63.9%
1996
62.2%
1995
61.8%
1971

Nissan Almera Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 141,538
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 88,997
Brake pipe excessively corroded 84,584
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 77,923
position lamp(s) not working 67,756
Stop lamp not working 56,143
Registration plate lamp not working 55,359
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 54,599
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 47,020
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 41,495

Nissan Almera Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
3,252 mi/yr
Typical
5,550 mi/yr
Average
6,534 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,517 mi/yr

Nissan Almera MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2009 57 73.7% 31,214 48,276 66,222
2007 1,013 72.1% 35,127 59,786 93,883
2006 73,623 74.9% 37,584 58,736 82,910
2005 368,332 73.7% 37,645 58,958 83,223
2004 401,525 74.2% 38,274 59,550 83,945
2003 422,879 73.4% 39,115 59,774 83,546
2002 465,929 71.5% 43,893 64,387 87,787
2001 386,195 70.7% 48,276 67,546 89,657
2000 214,499 68.9% 51,276 70,099 91,186
1999 190,278 67.7% 55,668 74,791 96,245
1998 182,529 67.0% 60,923 80,168 101,236
1997 136,040 65.7% 66,466 85,577 106,224
1996 114,066 63.9% 68,630 87,906 108,064
1995 18,319 62.2% 72,286 91,498 111,406
1971 68 61.8% 48,027 83,460 102,943

How Long Does a Nissan Almera Last?

Based on 231,560 Nissan Almera vehicles on UK roads.

Average
13.1 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
30 years

Nissan Almera Mileage Distribution

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

Median
67,265 mi
75th Percentile
90,612 mi
95th Percentile
127,527 mi
Max Recorded
999,999 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Nissan Almera

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

Best year
2006

74.9% MOT pass rate from 73,623 tests

Year to avoid
1971

61.8% MOT pass rate from 68 tests

The best year to buy a used Nissan Almera is 2006, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 74.9% across 73,623 tests. The 1971 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Nissan Almera Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Nissan Almera THIS CAR 71.1% 2,976,239 67,265 mi 30 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
Mercedes-benz Vito 71.2% 2,011,702 109,989 mi 29 yrs

Compared to the Nissan Micra (71.4% pass rate) and the Nissan Qashqai (77.3% pass rate), the Nissan Almera trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Nissan Almera?

The Nissan Almera has an overall MOT pass rate of 71.1% across 2,976,239 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Nissan Almera are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (141,538 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (88,997), and brake pipe excessively corroded (84,584). 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 Almera owner drives around 5,550 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 Almera models stay on UK roads for around 30 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 Almera — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Nissan Almera reliable?
Based on 2,976,239 MOT tests, the Nissan Almera has a 71.1% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Nissan Almera?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, and brake pipe excessively corroded. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Nissan Almera do per year?
The typical Nissan Almera does around 5,550 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Nissan Almera last?
Most Nissan Almera models stay on UK roads for around 30 years based on our analysis of 231,560 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Nissan Almera?
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 Almera?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Nissan Almera is 2006 with a 74.9% pass rate across 73,623 tests.