Nissan D21 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Nissan D21 car check
Is the Nissan D21 reliable? We analysed 30,812 real MOT tests across 4,480 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Nissan D21? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Nissan D21 is below average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded and vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Nissan D21.
Nissan D21 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Nissan D21. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Nissan D21 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Nissan D21 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Nissan D21 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Nissan D21 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Nissan D21 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Nissan D21 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Nissan D21 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Nissan D21 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 96 | 71.9% | 62,386 | 81,826 | 111,648 |
| 2005 | 173 | 71.7% | 65,930 | 98,616 | 134,092 |
| 2004 | 572 | 70.3% | 51,428 | 79,337 | 120,538 |
| 2003 | 808 | 70.0% | 63,415 | 92,137 | 123,908 |
| 2002 | 846 | 66.2% | 61,091 | 91,518 | 122,888 |
| 2001 | 627 | 66.2% | 64,572 | 94,555 | 131,002 |
| 2000 | 633 | 69.4% | 71,816 | 100,054 | 141,231 |
| 1999 | 525 | 66.7% | 72,618 | 98,668 | 134,168 |
| 1998 | 2,582 | 62.5% | 77,209 | 103,220 | 133,444 |
| 1997 | 4,332 | 65.8% | 79,489 | 107,022 | 136,280 |
| 1996 | 3,656 | 63.4% | 73,594 | 102,509 | 137,134 |
| 1995 | 3,017 | 61.7% | 68,138 | 96,553 | 128,942 |
| 1994 | 2,619 | 62.0% | 83,003 | 115,124 | 149,116 |
| 1993 | 2,531 | 62.3% | 86,804 | 111,392 | 141,596 |
| 1992 | 1,524 | 65.6% | 82,498 | 106,142 | 136,706 |
| 1991 | 1,126 | 62.6% | 96,385 | 124,792 | 156,455 |
| 1990 | 1,452 | 61.8% | 86,860 | 114,471 | 144,915 |
| 1989 | 988 | 64.6% | 75,669 | 101,943 | 127,307 |
| 1988 | 1,447 | 63.6% | 80,962 | 106,673 | 140,983 |
| 1987 | 769 | 65.1% | 74,104 | 94,756 | 136,245 |
How Long Does a Nissan D21 Last?
Based on 4,480 Nissan D21 vehicles on UK roads.
Nissan D21 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Nissan D21 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 D21
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
71.9% MOT pass rate from 96 tests
61.7% MOT pass rate from 3,017 tests
The best year to buy a used Nissan D21 is 2006, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 71.9% across 96 tests. The 1995 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Nissan D21 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan D21 THIS CAR | 64.1% | 30,812 | 104,688 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 |
| Tvr Griffith 500 | 84.2% | 13,259 | 40,199 mi | 34 yrs |
Compared to the Nissan Micra (71.4% pass rate) and the Nissan Qashqai (77.3% pass rate), the Nissan D21 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Nissan D21 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 D21Should you buy a used Nissan D21?
The Nissan D21 has an overall MOT pass rate of 64.1% across 30,812 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.
The most common problems on the Nissan D21 are brake pipe excessively corroded (2,698 recorded failures), suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (1,667), and vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (1,597). 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 D21 owner drives around 3,741 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 D21 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.