Nissan Terrano Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Nissan Terrano car check
Is the Nissan Terrano reliable? We analysed 433,615 real MOT tests across 34,923 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Nissan Terrano? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Nissan Terrano is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint and seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Nissan Terrano.
Nissan Terrano Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Nissan Terrano. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Nissan Terrano MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Nissan Terrano to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Nissan Terrano Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Nissan Terrano fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Nissan Terrano Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Nissan Terrano owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Nissan Terrano MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Nissan Terrano year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 368 | 69.8% | 70,359 | 95,466 | 120,919 |
| 2006 | 6,641 | 69.2% | 56,406 | 83,764 | 116,388 |
| 2005 | 26,568 | 69.9% | 52,066 | 77,923 | 106,145 |
| 2004 | 51,011 | 69.6% | 51,568 | 77,446 | 106,220 |
| 2003 | 50,365 | 69.3% | 51,912 | 77,403 | 105,432 |
| 2002 | 39,391 | 68.8% | 51,862 | 77,979 | 107,714 |
| 2001 | 45,448 | 67.8% | 45,146 | 69,082 | 94,643 |
| 2000 | 37,135 | 68.1% | 46,868 | 72,470 | 98,470 |
| 1999 | 43,519 | 66.6% | 77,768 | 101,733 | 127,843 |
| 1998 | 37,998 | 65.7% | 84,434 | 107,122 | 132,341 |
| 1997 | 29,258 | 64.9% | 89,356 | 111,508 | 135,352 |
| 1996 | 23,835 | 63.5% | 92,710 | 113,293 | 135,302 |
| 1995 | 19,447 | 62.8% | 95,850 | 115,159 | 137,048 |
| 1994 | 15,702 | 62.6% | 99,506 | 119,509 | 141,313 |
| 1993 | 6,125 | 63.3% | 100,611 | 120,710 | 142,911 |
| 1992 | 145 | 73.1% | 134,494 | 185,644 | 227,939 |
| 1991 | 64 | 68.8% | 98,997 | 135,483 | 209,014 |
| 1990 | 79 | 65.8% | 145,792 | 168,162 | 182,790 |
| 1989 | 71 | 66.2% | 183,494 | 202,969 | 212,248 |
| 1971 | 63 | 61.9% | 96,442 | 131,259 | 169,142 |
How Long Does a Nissan Terrano Last?
Based on 34,923 Nissan Terrano vehicles on UK roads.
Nissan Terrano Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Nissan Terrano 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 Terrano
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
73.1% MOT pass rate from 145 tests
61.9% MOT pass rate from 63 tests
The best year to buy a used Nissan Terrano is 1992, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 73.1% across 145 tests. The 1971 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Nissan Terrano Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Terrano THIS CAR | 67.2% | 433,615 | 91,603 mi | 33 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 MR2 | 70.3% | 602,130 | 86,819 mi | 40 yrs |
Compared to the Nissan Micra (71.4% pass rate) and the Nissan Qashqai (77.3% pass rate), the Nissan Terrano trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Nissan Terrano 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 TerranoShould you buy a used Nissan Terrano?
The Nissan Terrano has an overall MOT pass rate of 67.2% across 433,615 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Nissan Terrano are brake pipe excessively corroded (34,504 recorded failures), anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (24,436), and seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (20,176). 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 Terrano owner drives around 6,358 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 Terrano models stay on UK roads for around 33 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.