Nissan Bluebird Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Nissan Bluebird car check
Is the Nissan Bluebird reliable? We analysed 72,347 real MOT tests across 15,952 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Nissan Bluebird? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Nissan Bluebird is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include constant velocity joint gaiter split, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Nissan Bluebird.
Nissan Bluebird Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Nissan Bluebird. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Nissan Bluebird MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Nissan Bluebird to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Nissan Bluebird Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Nissan Bluebird fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Nissan Bluebird Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Nissan Bluebird owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Nissan Bluebird MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Nissan Bluebird year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 57 | 57.9% | 79,130 | 90,741 | 137,340 |
| 1997 | 50 | 84.0% | 77,687 | 98,976 | 122,115 |
| 1992 | 134 | 65.7% | 74,650 | 83,418 | 104,738 |
| 1991 | 2,407 | 66.8% | 77,600 | 98,067 | 122,076 |
| 1990 | 18,680 | 67.0% | 73,868 | 97,580 | 121,339 |
| 1989 | 23,416 | 67.5% | 76,210 | 98,948 | 123,562 |
| 1988 | 12,177 | 67.5% | 72,544 | 97,083 | 123,377 |
| 1987 | 9,141 | 66.5% | 73,296 | 95,804 | 122,548 |
| 1986 | 4,203 | 64.7% | 69,760 | 91,858 | 118,039 |
| 1985 | 977 | 69.1% | 59,738 | 86,100 | 112,547 |
| 1984 | 268 | 64.2% | 55,413 | 70,593 | 99,745 |
| 1983 | 219 | 66.7% | 41,744 | 63,115 | 83,090 |
| 1982 | 67 | 62.7% | 38,278 | 67,392 | 79,348 |
| 1981 | 140 | 79.3% | 34,981 | 55,295 | 85,052 |
How Long Does a Nissan Bluebird Last?
Based on 15,952 Nissan Bluebird vehicles on UK roads.
Nissan Bluebird Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Nissan Bluebird MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Nissan Bluebird
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
84.0% MOT pass rate from 50 tests
57.9% MOT pass rate from 57 tests
The best year to buy a used Nissan Bluebird is 1997, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.0% across 50 tests. The 2001 model year has the lowest pass rate at 57.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Nissan Bluebird Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Bluebird THIS CAR | 67.1% | 72,347 | 97,009 mi | 40 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 |
| Honda CBR1000F | 83.2% | 32,075 | 37,091 mi | 39 yrs |
Compared to the Nissan Micra (71.4% pass rate) and the Nissan Qashqai (77.3% pass rate), the Nissan Bluebird trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Nissan Bluebird you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Nissan BluebirdShould you buy a used Nissan Bluebird?
The Nissan Bluebird has an overall MOT pass rate of 67.1% across 72,347 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Nissan Bluebird are constant velocity joint gaiter split (5,085 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5,025), and brake pipe excessively corroded (5,022). 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 Bluebird owner drives around 2,460 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 Bluebird models stay on UK roads for around 40 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.