Nissan Pulsar Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Nissan Pulsar car check
Is the Nissan Pulsar reliable? We analysed 197,697 real MOT tests across 22,716 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Nissan Pulsar? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Nissan Pulsar is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Nissan Pulsar.
Nissan Pulsar Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Nissan Pulsar. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Nissan Pulsar MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Nissan Pulsar to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Nissan Pulsar Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Nissan Pulsar models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Nissan Pulsar Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Nissan Pulsar owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Nissan Pulsar MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Nissan Pulsar year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 12,579 | 87.4% | 18,930 | 30,261 | 45,558 |
| 2017 | 31,362 | 86.3% | 23,478 | 36,224 | 53,440 |
| 2016 | 54,457 | 83.5% | 26,895 | 41,677 | 61,308 |
| 2015 | 77,889 | 81.2% | 30,497 | 46,594 | 67,017 |
| 2014 | 15,375 | 79.8% | 32,149 | 50,705 | 72,447 |
| 2007 | 106 | 72.6% | 68,963 | 99,298 | 113,450 |
| 2006 | 126 | 74.6% | 85,124 | 111,433 | 134,428 |
| 2005 | 227 | 74.9% | 63,911 | 90,226 | 123,878 |
| 2004 | 387 | 70.3% | 73,724 | 95,082 | 122,086 |
| 2003 | 497 | 74.6% | 72,133 | 94,698 | 115,223 |
| 2002 | 320 | 73.1% | 66,851 | 88,946 | 118,598 |
| 2001 | 299 | 66.2% | 75,136 | 94,722 | 132,452 |
| 2000 | 496 | 70.2% | 68,077 | 90,225 | 108,697 |
| 1999 | 532 | 70.9% | 67,513 | 90,556 | 120,190 |
| 1998 | 152 | 71.7% | 73,769 | 118,591 | 140,060 |
| 1997 | 73 | 67.1% | 81,671 | 88,463 | 101,375 |
| 1996 | 57 | 66.7% | 101,619 | 127,006 | 143,392 |
| 1994 | 200 | 72.5% | 68,129 | 84,336 | 124,238 |
| 1993 | 245 | 67.3% | 73,731 | 96,591 | 127,976 |
| 1992 | 428 | 70.6% | 76,022 | 97,811 | 110,977 |
How Long Does a Nissan Pulsar Last?
Based on 22,716 Nissan Pulsar vehicles on UK roads.
Nissan Pulsar Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Nissan Pulsar 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 Pulsar
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
87.4% MOT pass rate from 12,579 tests
66.2% MOT pass rate from 299 tests
The best year to buy a used Nissan Pulsar is 2018, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.4% across 12,579 tests. The 2001 model year has the lowest pass rate at 66.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Nissan Pulsar Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Pulsar THIS CAR | 82.6% | 197,697 | 43,336 mi | 12 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 |
| Ford Transit Courier | 77.5% | 203,833 | 65,792 mi | 12 yrs |
Compared to the Nissan Micra (71.4% pass rate) and the Nissan Qashqai (77.3% pass rate), the Nissan Pulsar outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Nissan Pulsar 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 PulsarShould you buy a used Nissan Pulsar?
The Nissan Pulsar has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.6% across 197,697 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
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 Pulsar 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 Pulsar owner drives around 5,884 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 Pulsar models stay on UK roads for around 12 years. 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.