Nissan Skyline Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Nissan Skyline car check
Is the Nissan Skyline reliable? We analysed 75,718 real MOT tests across 9,471 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Nissan Skyline? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Nissan Skyline is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Nissan Skyline.
Nissan Skyline Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Nissan Skyline. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Nissan Skyline MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Nissan Skyline to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Nissan Skyline Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Nissan Skyline fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Nissan Skyline Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Nissan Skyline owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Nissan Skyline MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Nissan Skyline year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 106 | 84.9% | 91,474 | 117,079 | 143,276 |
| 2020 | 170 | 84.1% | 70,546 | 95,362 | 127,086 |
| 2019 | 328 | 85.7% | 75,625 | 104,518 | 151,594 |
| 2018 | 404 | 84.4% | 78,155 | 108,028 | 148,117 |
| 2017 | 815 | 83.7% | 70,417 | 103,446 | 136,644 |
| 2016 | 1,363 | 82.2% | 75,154 | 101,101 | 134,852 |
| 2015 | 1,786 | 84.3% | 68,173 | 95,891 | 126,692 |
| 2014 | 967 | 78.9% | 68,432 | 92,490 | 120,918 |
| 2013 | 376 | 78.7% | 61,228 | 81,555 | 102,356 |
| 2012 | 380 | 83.9% | 76,772 | 93,504 | 114,096 |
| 2011 | 427 | 77.5% | 60,308 | 104,745 | 141,229 |
| 2010 | 970 | 80.6% | 68,362 | 88,062 | 116,975 |
| 2009 | 1,604 | 76.8% | 66,990 | 91,652 | 122,011 |
| 2008 | 4,002 | 76.5% | 68,901 | 95,832 | 124,516 |
| 2007 | 5,058 | 75.0% | 70,550 | 94,951 | 120,218 |
| 2006 | 5,442 | 76.7% | 66,875 | 93,488 | 119,779 |
| 2005 | 8,097 | 77.1% | 67,206 | 89,822 | 118,204 |
| 2004 | 6,299 | 75.7% | 66,881 | 89,696 | 116,478 |
| 2003 | 4,562 | 75.9% | 63,040 | 84,245 | 112,221 |
| 2002 | 1,170 | 76.4% | 53,617 | 79,088 | 106,397 |
How Long Does a Nissan Skyline Last?
Based on 9,471 Nissan Skyline vehicles on UK roads.
Nissan Skyline Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Nissan Skyline 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 Skyline
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
85.7% MOT pass rate from 328 tests
73.6% MOT pass rate from 2,641 tests
The best year to buy a used Nissan Skyline is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 85.7% across 328 tests. The 1993 model year has the lowest pass rate at 73.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Nissan Skyline Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Skyline THIS CAR | 77.4% | 75,718 | 91,328 mi | 36 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 |
| Honda Cbf 125 M-b | 77.6% | 23,698 | 12,333 mi | 15 yrs |
Compared to the Nissan Micra (71.4% pass rate) and the Nissan Qashqai (77.3% pass rate), the Nissan Skyline outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Nissan Skyline 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 SkylineShould you buy a used Nissan Skyline?
The Nissan Skyline has an overall MOT pass rate of 77.4% across 75,718 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 Skyline are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (3,220 recorded failures), exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (2,248), and brake pipe excessively corroded (1,783). 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 Skyline owner drives around 2,326 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 Skyline models stay on UK roads for around 36 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.