Nissan Cabstar Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Nissan Cabstar car check
Is the Nissan Cabstar reliable? We analysed 343,105 real MOT tests across 28,370 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Nissan Cabstar? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Nissan Cabstar is below average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, service brake: efficiency below requirements and shock absorber has an excessively worn bush. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Nissan Cabstar.
Nissan Cabstar Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Nissan Cabstar. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Nissan Cabstar MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Nissan Cabstar to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Nissan Cabstar Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Nissan Cabstar fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Nissan Cabstar Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Nissan Cabstar owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Nissan Cabstar MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Nissan Cabstar year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 586 | 69.8% | 20,148 | 39,712 | 57,589 |
| 2019 | 2,686 | 70.7% | 27,182 | 42,726 | 64,978 |
| 2018 | 2,893 | 70.7% | 32,308 | 49,653 | 74,209 |
| 2017 | 5,759 | 69.2% | 34,704 | 52,325 | 77,891 |
| 2016 | 10,614 | 66.6% | 35,945 | 54,396 | 79,543 |
| 2015 | 11,126 | 66.3% | 39,585 | 61,227 | 90,002 |
| 2014 | 9,521 | 65.1% | 39,632 | 61,028 | 88,905 |
| 2013 | 9,624 | 65.3% | 43,150 | 69,606 | 101,188 |
| 2012 | 9,903 | 64.5% | 46,930 | 73,522 | 105,012 |
| 2011 | 8,049 | 63.5% | 48,471 | 75,913 | 106,559 |
| 2010 | 10,683 | 63.4% | 46,571 | 72,259 | 102,100 |
| 2009 | 9,007 | 63.4% | 43,730 | 68,641 | 98,658 |
| 2008 | 13,355 | 62.8% | 46,553 | 73,847 | 102,440 |
| 2007 | 16,582 | 62.5% | 47,719 | 74,650 | 103,224 |
| 2006 | 17,684 | 62.9% | 47,170 | 74,064 | 103,791 |
| 2005 | 22,075 | 63.8% | 49,162 | 74,501 | 104,755 |
| 2004 | 26,420 | 63.5% | 47,500 | 72,834 | 102,000 |
| 2003 | 21,827 | 65.4% | 49,208 | 73,746 | 101,556 |
| 2002 | 25,416 | 64.4% | 52,406 | 76,641 | 103,704 |
| 2001 | 22,761 | 64.1% | 55,705 | 76,898 | 101,442 |
How Long Does a Nissan Cabstar Last?
Based on 28,370 Nissan Cabstar vehicles on UK roads.
Nissan Cabstar Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Nissan Cabstar 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 Cabstar
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
72.2% MOT pass rate from 90 tests
59.4% MOT pass rate from 655 tests
The best year to buy a used Nissan Cabstar is 1971, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 72.2% across 90 tests. The 1991 model year has the lowest pass rate at 59.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Nissan Cabstar Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Cabstar THIS CAR | 64.2% | 343,105 | 80,167 mi | 34 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 |
| Ford Tourneo | 80.3% | 136,499 | 75,975 mi | 22 yrs |
Compared to the Nissan Micra (71.4% pass rate) and the Nissan Qashqai (77.3% pass rate), the Nissan Cabstar trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Nissan Cabstar 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 CabstarShould you buy a used Nissan Cabstar?
The Nissan Cabstar has an overall MOT pass rate of 64.2% across 343,105 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.
The most common problems on the Nissan Cabstar are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (27,729 recorded failures), service brake: efficiency below requirements (18,241), and shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (13,616). 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 Cabstar owner drives around 5,579 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 Cabstar models stay on UK roads for around 34 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.