Nissan Primastar Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Nissan Primastar car check
Is the Nissan Primastar reliable? We analysed 374,712 real MOT tests across 21,329 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Nissan Primastar? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Nissan Primastar is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include track rod end ball joint has excessive play, suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Nissan Primastar.
Nissan Primastar Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Nissan Primastar. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Nissan Primastar MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Nissan Primastar to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Nissan Primastar Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Nissan Primastar fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Nissan Primastar Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Nissan Primastar owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Nissan Primastar MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Nissan Primastar year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 65 | 78.5% | 30,869 | 54,628 | 88,966 |
| 2014 | 11,304 | 67.7% | 52,760 | 82,079 | 114,257 |
| 2013 | 10,520 | 68.0% | 61,492 | 92,727 | 130,066 |
| 2012 | 11,853 | 67.9% | 66,859 | 96,675 | 133,236 |
| 2011 | 21,413 | 66.6% | 67,007 | 100,034 | 135,926 |
| 2010 | 10,758 | 66.6% | 67,442 | 102,364 | 139,254 |
| 2009 | 23,104 | 67.4% | 65,699 | 99,588 | 137,590 |
| 2008 | 32,712 | 66.8% | 68,257 | 102,165 | 139,007 |
| 2007 | 52,976 | 66.1% | 68,474 | 102,671 | 141,442 |
| 2006 | 51,248 | 65.3% | 71,301 | 106,080 | 144,421 |
| 2005 | 54,377 | 65.3% | 70,397 | 104,791 | 141,043 |
| 2004 | 51,815 | 65.0% | 74,555 | 108,630 | 145,676 |
| 2003 | 38,133 | 65.0% | 72,920 | 105,761 | 140,090 |
| 2002 | 3,677 | 65.0% | 71,775 | 104,542 | 137,857 |
How Long Does a Nissan Primastar Last?
Based on 21,329 Nissan Primastar vehicles on UK roads.
Nissan Primastar Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Nissan Primastar 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 Primastar
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
78.5% MOT pass rate from 65 tests
65.0% MOT pass rate from 3,677 tests
The best year to buy a used Nissan Primastar is 2015, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 78.5% across 65 tests. The 2002 model year has the lowest pass rate at 65.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Nissan Primastar Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Primastar THIS CAR | 65.9% | 374,712 | 103,084 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 |
| Citroen C8 | 67% | 163,993 | 76,470 mi | 23 yrs |
Compared to the Nissan Micra (71.4% pass rate) and the Nissan Qashqai (77.3% pass rate), the Nissan Primastar trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Nissan Primastar 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 PrimastarShould you buy a used Nissan Primastar?
The Nissan Primastar has an overall MOT pass rate of 65.9% across 374,712 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Nissan Primastar are track rod end ball joint has excessive play (23,272 recorded failures), suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (11,276), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (10,507). 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 Primastar owner drives around 7,838 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 Primastar 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.