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Nissan Pixo Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Nissan Pixo car check

Is the Nissan Pixo reliable? We analysed 217,471 real MOT tests across 14,452 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 217,471 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
77.9%
Typical Mileage
40,508mi
Annual Mileage
3,708mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
17yrs

The Nissan Pixo is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and horn not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Nissan Pixo.

Nissan Pixo Number Plates

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

Nissan Pixo MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

80.1%
2013
79.7%
2012
78.9%
2011
77.5%
2010
77%
2009

Nissan Pixo Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 2,894
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 2,547
Horn not working 916

Nissan Pixo Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Nissan Pixo models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 2,809

Nissan Pixo Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
1,873 mi/yr
Typical
3,708 mi/yr
Average
4,835 mi/yr
Heavy usage
6,449 mi/yr

Nissan Pixo MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2013 6,703 80.1% 18,577 32,968 54,508
2012 26,663 79.7% 20,928 35,452 55,490
2011 33,625 78.9% 22,925 39,529 61,277
2010 75,870 77.5% 25,101 42,120 64,038
2009 73,982 77.0% 24,152 41,781 64,080

How Long Does a Nissan Pixo Last?

Based on 14,452 Nissan Pixo vehicles on UK roads.

Average
13.3 years
Median
14.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
17 years

Nissan Pixo Mileage Distribution

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

Median
40,508 mi
75th Percentile
62,486 mi
95th Percentile
99,738 mi
Max Recorded
922,876 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Nissan Pixo

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

Best year
2013

80.1% MOT pass rate from 6,703 tests

Year to avoid
2009

77.0% MOT pass rate from 73,982 tests

The best year to buy a used Nissan Pixo is 2013, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 80.1% across 6,703 tests. The 2009 model year has the lowest pass rate at 77.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Nissan Pixo Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Nissan Pixo THIS CAR 77.9% 217,471 40,508 mi 17 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
Jaguar Xe 84.6% 350,947 46,703 mi 11 yrs

Compared to the Nissan Micra (71.4% pass rate) and the Nissan Qashqai (77.3% pass rate), the Nissan Pixo outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

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Should you buy a used Nissan Pixo?

The Nissan Pixo has an overall MOT pass rate of 77.9% across 217,471 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 Pixo are windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (2,894 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2,547), and horn not working (916). 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.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Nissan Pixo with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Nissan Pixo owner drives around 3,708 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 Pixo models stay on UK roads for around 17 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 Pixo — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Nissan Pixo reliable?
Based on 217,471 MOT tests, the Nissan Pixo has a 77.9% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Nissan Pixo?
The most common MOT failures are windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and horn not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Nissan Pixo do per year?
The typical Nissan Pixo does around 3,708 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Nissan Pixo last?
Most Nissan Pixo models stay on UK roads for around 17 years based on our analysis of 14,452 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Nissan Pixo?
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 Pixo?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Nissan Pixo is 2013 with a 80.1% pass rate across 6,703 tests.