Nissan Silvia Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Nissan Silvia car check
Is the Nissan Silvia reliable? We analysed 11,923 real MOT tests across 2,116 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Nissan Silvia? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Nissan Silvia is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pipe excessively corroded and suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Nissan Silvia.
Nissan Silvia Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Nissan Silvia. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Nissan Silvia MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Nissan Silvia to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Nissan Silvia Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Nissan Silvia fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Nissan Silvia Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Nissan Silvia owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Nissan Silvia MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Nissan Silvia year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 95 | 89.5% | 81,820 | 131,825 | 144,912 |
| 2019 | 155 | 81.9% | 86,357 | 121,336 | 154,122 |
| 2018 | 201 | 84.6% | 91,283 | 115,411 | 144,555 |
| 2017 | 342 | 81.3% | 86,309 | 132,901 | 164,820 |
| 2016 | 455 | 83.1% | 90,332 | 123,328 | 163,102 |
| 2015 | 387 | 82.2% | 96,985 | 130,844 | 167,796 |
| 2014 | 232 | 81.0% | 100,061 | 118,862 | 137,319 |
| 2013 | 186 | 79.6% | 91,288 | 111,475 | 129,294 |
| 2012 | 221 | 81.9% | 72,790 | 111,156 | 139,659 |
| 2011 | 162 | 75.3% | 73,288 | 95,722 | 127,457 |
| 2010 | 304 | 77.6% | 77,077 | 111,847 | 145,848 |
| 2009 | 242 | 78.5% | 88,626 | 123,256 | 143,350 |
| 2008 | 389 | 76.6% | 86,291 | 106,220 | 126,850 |
| 2007 | 453 | 75.1% | 88,643 | 113,777 | 135,688 |
| 2006 | 376 | 73.9% | 70,817 | 99,912 | 132,300 |
| 2005 | 165 | 70.9% | 80,683 | 102,576 | 118,709 |
| 2004 | 128 | 75.8% | 73,604 | 89,600 | 131,389 |
| 2003 | 141 | 73.0% | 45,854 | 75,084 | 96,577 |
| 2002 | 297 | 78.5% | 81,230 | 119,377 | 143,673 |
| 2001 | 486 | 81.5% | 67,975 | 105,090 | 140,909 |
How Long Does a Nissan Silvia Last?
Based on 2,116 Nissan Silvia vehicles on UK roads.
Nissan Silvia Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Nissan Silvia 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 Silvia
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
89.5% MOT pass rate from 95 tests
67.7% MOT pass rate from 167 tests
The best year to buy a used Nissan Silvia is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.5% across 95 tests. The 1984 model year has the lowest pass rate at 67.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Nissan Silvia Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Silvia THIS CAR | 76.4% | 11,923 | 106,198 mi | 42 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 |
| Vauxhall Crossland X Elite Turbo Auto | 89.7% | 3,958 | 20,969 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Nissan Micra (71.4% pass rate) and the Nissan Qashqai (77.3% pass rate), the Nissan Silvia sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Nissan Silvia 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 SilviaShould you buy a used Nissan Silvia?
The Nissan Silvia has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.4% across 11,923 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 Silvia are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (435 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (225), and suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (224). 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 Silvia owner drives around 1,823 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 Silvia models stay on UK roads for around 42 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.