Nissan Interstar Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Nissan Interstar car check
Is the Nissan Interstar reliable? We analysed 43,912 real MOT tests across 2,883 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Nissan Interstar? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Nissan Interstar is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Nissan Interstar.
Nissan Interstar Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Nissan Interstar. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Nissan Interstar MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Nissan Interstar to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Nissan Interstar Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Nissan Interstar fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Nissan Interstar Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Nissan Interstar owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Nissan Interstar MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Nissan Interstar year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 452 | 64.6% | 75,025 | 114,152 | 167,379 |
| 2010 | 2,397 | 65.5% | 75,594 | 114,532 | 152,255 |
| 2009 | 3,661 | 68.5% | 66,110 | 104,457 | 148,609 |
| 2008 | 4,133 | 68.2% | 69,829 | 104,699 | 143,370 |
| 2007 | 4,509 | 67.4% | 67,312 | 101,902 | 137,634 |
| 2006 | 5,581 | 65.1% | 77,332 | 112,464 | 150,365 |
| 2005 | 4,731 | 66.4% | 68,507 | 102,434 | 137,470 |
| 2004 | 6,471 | 67.3% | 69,719 | 103,686 | 139,681 |
| 2003 | 5,568 | 66.8% | 66,690 | 98,672 | 130,920 |
| 2002 | 6,244 | 65.2% | 64,739 | 93,683 | 125,469 |
How Long Does a Nissan Interstar Last?
Based on 2,883 Nissan Interstar vehicles on UK roads.
Nissan Interstar Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Nissan Interstar 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 Interstar
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
68.5% MOT pass rate from 3,661 tests
64.6% MOT pass rate from 452 tests
The best year to buy a used Nissan Interstar is 2009, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 68.5% across 3,661 tests. The 2011 model year has the lowest pass rate at 64.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Nissan Interstar Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Interstar THIS CAR | 66.6% | 43,912 | 102,648 mi | 24 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 |
| Daihatsu Materia | 81.1% | 14,356 | 56,917 mi | 19 yrs |
Compared to the Nissan Micra (71.4% pass rate) and the Nissan Qashqai (77.3% pass rate), the Nissan Interstar trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Nissan Interstar 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 InterstarShould you buy a used Nissan Interstar?
The Nissan Interstar has an overall MOT pass rate of 66.6% across 43,912 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Nissan Interstar are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3,076 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (1,644), and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1,471). 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 Interstar owner drives around 7,170 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 Interstar models stay on UK roads for around 24 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.