Nissan Primera Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Nissan Primera car check
Is the Nissan Primera reliable? We analysed 1,768,156 real MOT tests across 199,016 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Nissan Primera? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Nissan Primera is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, constant velocity joint gaiter split and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Nissan Primera.
Nissan Primera Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Nissan Primera. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Nissan Primera MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Nissan Primera to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Nissan Primera Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Nissan Primera fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Nissan Primera Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Nissan Primera owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Nissan Primera MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Nissan Primera year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 523 | 71.9% | 40,968 | 62,493 | 88,129 |
| 2006 | 51,808 | 73.2% | 43,813 | 65,089 | 90,046 |
| 2005 | 109,389 | 71.4% | 46,988 | 71,213 | 99,110 |
| 2004 | 119,938 | 71.3% | 49,013 | 73,699 | 101,800 |
| 2003 | 163,418 | 71.9% | 47,202 | 70,362 | 96,419 |
| 2002 | 191,684 | 71.4% | 49,453 | 71,023 | 95,660 |
| 2001 | 151,237 | 71.2% | 53,903 | 73,712 | 96,748 |
| 2000 | 141,762 | 68.1% | 58,892 | 79,193 | 102,654 |
| 1999 | 196,384 | 67.0% | 63,083 | 83,434 | 106,912 |
| 1998 | 180,176 | 65.8% | 70,444 | 91,289 | 115,204 |
| 1997 | 171,327 | 65.5% | 74,649 | 95,687 | 119,368 |
| 1996 | 102,802 | 63.5% | 76,144 | 95,870 | 117,535 |
| 1995 | 66,910 | 62.0% | 81,548 | 101,306 | 122,966 |
| 1994 | 52,091 | 61.2% | 82,611 | 103,666 | 126,425 |
| 1993 | 34,354 | 61.4% | 82,962 | 104,029 | 125,666 |
| 1992 | 21,056 | 60.9% | 83,921 | 106,010 | 128,413 |
| 1991 | 11,139 | 63.5% | 79,975 | 104,348 | 128,447 |
| 1990 | 1,739 | 62.2% | 87,691 | 111,466 | 133,898 |
| 1971 | 103 | 60.2% | 85,254 | 106,234 | 127,627 |
How Long Does a Nissan Primera Last?
Based on 199,016 Nissan Primera vehicles on UK roads.
Nissan Primera Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Nissan Primera 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 Primera
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
73.2% MOT pass rate from 51,808 tests
60.2% MOT pass rate from 103 tests
The best year to buy a used Nissan Primera is 2006, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 73.2% across 51,808 tests. The 1971 model year has the lowest pass rate at 60.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Nissan Primera Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Primera THIS CAR | 68.1% | 1,768,156 | 83,306 mi | 35 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 |
| Toyota Avensis | 75% | 3,497,866 | 89,776 mi | 28 yrs |
Compared to the Nissan Micra (71.4% pass rate) and the Nissan Qashqai (77.3% pass rate), the Nissan Primera trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Nissan Primera 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 PrimeraShould you buy a used Nissan Primera?
The Nissan Primera has an overall MOT pass rate of 68.1% across 1,768,156 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Nissan Primera are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (96,181 recorded failures), constant velocity joint gaiter split (73,704), and parking brake: efficiency below requirements (67,433). 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 Primera owner drives around 6,218 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 Primera models stay on UK roads for around 35 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.