Nissan Sunny Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Nissan Sunny car check
Is the Nissan Sunny reliable? We analysed 362,425 real MOT tests across 69,916 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Nissan Sunny? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Nissan Sunny is below average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and constant velocity joint gaiter split. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Nissan Sunny.
Nissan Sunny Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Nissan Sunny. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Nissan Sunny MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Nissan Sunny to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Nissan Sunny Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Nissan Sunny fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Nissan Sunny Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Nissan Sunny owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Nissan Sunny MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Nissan Sunny year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 54 | 74.1% | 89,098 | 122,446 | 145,340 |
| 2007 | 96 | 75.0% | 86,799 | 113,838 | 128,685 |
| 2006 | 155 | 71.6% | 81,323 | 104,968 | 130,944 |
| 2005 | 204 | 71.6% | 72,072 | 93,627 | 119,501 |
| 2004 | 516 | 72.5% | 68,647 | 89,052 | 114,805 |
| 2003 | 366 | 72.7% | 67,458 | 88,178 | 108,934 |
| 2002 | 258 | 70.2% | 79,581 | 93,373 | 118,395 |
| 2001 | 329 | 69.0% | 73,794 | 88,298 | 112,588 |
| 2000 | 727 | 71.0% | 73,457 | 92,128 | 115,101 |
| 1999 | 952 | 66.1% | 70,987 | 93,963 | 120,964 |
| 1998 | 898 | 70.4% | 71,300 | 100,328 | 132,460 |
| 1997 | 1,185 | 59.9% | 58,374 | 77,484 | 99,200 |
| 1996 | 1,140 | 64.2% | 71,458 | 90,186 | 112,928 |
| 1995 | 66,599 | 62.5% | 65,354 | 84,864 | 105,144 |
| 1994 | 73,431 | 62.0% | 67,887 | 87,247 | 108,312 |
| 1993 | 63,203 | 61.9% | 69,397 | 90,157 | 111,528 |
| 1992 | 39,666 | 60.5% | 68,802 | 89,876 | 111,646 |
| 1991 | 19,645 | 62.5% | 62,804 | 85,929 | 109,372 |
| 1990 | 26,794 | 63.1% | 61,648 | 82,924 | 105,760 |
| 1989 | 23,494 | 63.3% | 61,387 | 82,568 | 104,666 |
How Long Does a Nissan Sunny Last?
Based on 69,916 Nissan Sunny vehicles on UK roads.
Nissan Sunny Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Nissan Sunny 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 Sunny
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
76.2% MOT pass rate from 235 tests
59.9% MOT pass rate from 1,185 tests
The best year to buy a used Nissan Sunny is 1982, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 76.2% across 235 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 59.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Nissan Sunny Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Sunny THIS CAR | 62.5% | 362,425 | 86,554 mi | 40 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 |
| Mazda B Series | 68.9% | 136,422 | 92,775 mi | 38 yrs |
Compared to the Nissan Micra (71.4% pass rate) and the Nissan Qashqai (77.3% pass rate), the Nissan Sunny trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Nissan Sunny 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 SunnyShould you buy a used Nissan Sunny?
The Nissan Sunny has an overall MOT pass rate of 62.5% across 362,425 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.
The most common problems on the Nissan Sunny are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (64,404 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (31,314), and constant velocity joint gaiter split (31,277). 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 Sunny owner drives around 3,557 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 Sunny models stay on UK roads for around 40 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.