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Nissan Mistral Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Nissan Mistral car check

Is the Nissan Mistral reliable? We analysed 6,134 real MOT tests across 599 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 6,134 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
67.9%
Typical Mileage
125,210mi
Annual Mileage
6,952mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
32yrs

The Nissan Mistral is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Nissan Mistral.

Nissan Mistral Number Plates

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

Nissan Mistral MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

64.8%
2007
72.9%
2006
68.4%
2005
66.2%
2004
69.1%
2003
69.1%
2002
61.4%
2001
71.9%
2000
70%
1999
65.4%
1997
70.1%
1996
66.5%
1995
67.9%
1994

Nissan Mistral Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Brake pipe excessively corroded 431
Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint 355
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 289
position lamp(s) not working 238
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 220
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 217
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 189
Stop lamp not working 183
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 173
fog lamp not working 166

Nissan Mistral Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
3,915 mi/yr
Typical
6,952 mi/yr
Average
8,150 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,821 mi/yr

Nissan Mistral MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2007 128 64.8% 105,911 134,061 153,500
2006 203 72.9% 86,718 119,463 150,180
2005 725 68.4% 94,116 131,642 163,640
2004 795 66.2% 103,134 136,286 169,985
2003 738 69.1% 97,462 125,827 158,724
2002 204 69.1% 96,622 122,890 147,966
2001 132 61.4% 97,550 119,098 147,394
2000 89 71.9% 84,602 131,308 165,153
1999 70 70.0% 139,380 188,627 223,710
1997 133 65.4% 79,164 113,767 148,290
1996 663 70.1% 95,969 125,725 157,427
1995 1,096 66.5% 90,344 117,825 158,420
1994 978 67.9% 94,080 122,953 160,124

How Long Does a Nissan Mistral Last?

Based on 599 Nissan Mistral vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.6 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
32 years

Nissan Mistral Mileage Distribution

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

Median
125,210 mi
75th Percentile
160,245 mi
95th Percentile
213,964 mi
Max Recorded
967,796 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Nissan Mistral

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

Best year
2006

72.9% MOT pass rate from 203 tests

Year to avoid
2001

61.4% MOT pass rate from 132 tests

The best year to buy a used Nissan Mistral is 2006, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 72.9% across 203 tests. The 2001 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Nissan Mistral Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Nissan Mistral THIS CAR 67.9% 6,134 125,210 mi 32 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
Honda Cb 500 F-a 89.2% 2,572 15,073 mi 13 yrs

Compared to the Nissan Micra (71.4% pass rate) and the Nissan Qashqai (77.3% pass rate), the Nissan Mistral trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Nissan Mistral?

The Nissan Mistral has an overall MOT pass rate of 67.9% across 6,134 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Nissan Mistral are brake pipe excessively corroded (431 recorded failures), anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (355), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (289). 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 Mistral owner drives around 6,952 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 Mistral models stay on UK roads for around 32 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 Mistral — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Nissan Mistral reliable?
Based on 6,134 MOT tests, the Nissan Mistral has a 67.9% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Nissan Mistral?
The most common MOT failures are brake pipe excessively corroded, anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint, and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Nissan Mistral do per year?
The typical Nissan Mistral does around 6,952 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Nissan Mistral last?
Most Nissan Mistral models stay on UK roads for around 32 years based on our analysis of 599 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Nissan Mistral?
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 Mistral?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Nissan Mistral is 2006 with a 72.9% pass rate across 203 tests.