Nissan Fairlady Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Nissan Fairlady car check
Is the Nissan Fairlady reliable? We analysed 1,898 real MOT tests across 215 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Nissan Fairlady? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Nissan Fairlady is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, fog lamp not working and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Nissan Fairlady.
Nissan Fairlady Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Nissan Fairlady. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Nissan Fairlady MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Nissan Fairlady to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Nissan Fairlady Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Nissan Fairlady fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Nissan Fairlady Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Nissan Fairlady owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Nissan Fairlady MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Nissan Fairlady year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 66 | 78.8% | 37,850 | 75,789 | 97,031 |
| 2008 | 141 | 80.9% | 49,795 | 83,007 | 105,166 |
| 2007 | 220 | 77.3% | 56,060 | 70,398 | 87,438 |
| 2006 | 71 | 80.3% | 69,868 | 99,254 | 135,448 |
| 2005 | 197 | 72.6% | 61,343 | 79,860 | 95,931 |
| 2004 | 225 | 78.2% | 45,147 | 70,460 | 108,799 |
| 2003 | 245 | 76.3% | 48,972 | 81,214 | 106,389 |
| 2002 | 138 | 73.2% | 80,312 | 89,796 | 116,104 |
| 1990 | 65 | 63.1% | 56,102 | 62,144 | 101,948 |
How Long Does a Nissan Fairlady Last?
Based on 215 Nissan Fairlady vehicles on UK roads.
Nissan Fairlady Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Nissan Fairlady 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 Fairlady
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
80.9% MOT pass rate from 141 tests
63.1% MOT pass rate from 65 tests
The best year to buy a used Nissan Fairlady is 2008, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 80.9% across 141 tests. The 1990 model year has the lowest pass rate at 63.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Nissan Fairlady Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Fairlady THIS CAR | 76.1% | 1,898 | 81,460 mi | 36 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 |
| Subaru Impreza Gl AWD | 68.7% | 691 | 96,880 mi | 29 yrs |
Compared to the Nissan Micra (71.4% pass rate) and the Nissan Qashqai (77.3% pass rate), the Nissan Fairlady sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Nissan Fairlady 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 FairladyShould you buy a used Nissan Fairlady?
The Nissan Fairlady has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.1% across 1,898 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Nissan Fairlady are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (88 recorded failures), fog lamp not working (38), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (37). 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 Fairlady owner drives around 2,685 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 Fairlady models stay on UK roads for around 36 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.