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Nissan Laurel Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Nissan Laurel car check

Is the Nissan Laurel reliable? We analysed 3,076 real MOT tests across 502 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,076 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
73.0%
Typical Mileage
92,256mi
Annual Mileage
1,138mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
47yrs

The Nissan Laurel is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Nissan Laurel.

Nissan Laurel Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Nissan Laurel. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Nissan Laurel MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Nissan Laurel to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

70.7%
1990
70%
1989
72.1%
1988
68.4%
1987
74.9%
1986
75.4%
1985
69.1%
1984
75%
1983
73%
1982
67.6%
1979

Nissan Laurel Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Nissan Laurel fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 223
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 106
Brake pipe excessively corroded 99
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 94
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 89
Steering rack gaiter split 82
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 74
Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 73
Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 58
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 57

Nissan Laurel Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Nissan Laurel owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
351 mi/yr
Typical
1,138 mi/yr
Average
2,069 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,854 mi/yr

Nissan Laurel MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Nissan Laurel year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1990 82 70.7% 89,939 136,261 145,658
1989 277 70.0% 71,700 99,194 133,370
1988 577 72.1% 65,069 92,185 125,097
1987 427 68.4% 71,278 99,612 129,886
1986 271 74.9% 69,970 97,037 130,430
1985 236 75.4% 62,218 83,401 113,595
1984 139 69.1% 67,936 81,599 110,028
1983 168 75.0% 80,514 98,328 113,739
1982 137 73.0% 47,899 64,930 94,531
1979 111 67.6% 36,137 61,540 94,732

How Long Does a Nissan Laurel Last?

Based on 502 Nissan Laurel vehicles on UK roads.

Average
23.5 years
Median
21.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
47 years

Nissan Laurel Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Nissan Laurel MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
92,256 mi
75th Percentile
122,926 mi
95th Percentile
189,082 mi
Max Recorded
902,054 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Nissan Laurel

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1985

75.4% MOT pass rate from 236 tests

Year to avoid
1979

67.6% MOT pass rate from 111 tests

The best year to buy a used Nissan Laurel is 1985, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 75.4% across 236 tests. The 1979 model year has the lowest pass rate at 67.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Nissan Laurel Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Nissan Laurel THIS CAR 73.0% 3,076 92,256 mi 47 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
Mercedes-benz E 400 AMG Ln Ngt ED Prm+d 4M A 84% 2,359 33,812 mi — yrs

Compared to the Nissan Micra (71.4% pass rate) and the Nissan Qashqai (77.3% pass rate), the Nissan Laurel sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Nissan Laurel?

The Nissan Laurel has an overall MOT pass rate of 73.0% across 3,076 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Nissan Laurel are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (223 recorded failures), seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (106), and brake pipe excessively corroded (99). 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 Laurel owner drives around 1,138 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 Laurel models stay on UK roads for around 47 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.

Nissan Laurel — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Nissan Laurel reliable?
Based on 3,076 MOT tests, the Nissan Laurel has a 73.0% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Nissan Laurel?
The most common MOT failures are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded, and brake pipe excessively corroded. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Nissan Laurel do per year?
The typical Nissan Laurel does around 1,138 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Nissan Laurel last?
Most Nissan Laurel models stay on UK roads for around 47 years based on our analysis of 502 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Nissan Laurel?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Nissan Laurel?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Nissan Laurel is 1985 with a 75.4% pass rate across 236 tests.