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Nissan Urvan Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Nissan Urvan car check

Is the Nissan Urvan reliable? We analysed 7,321 real MOT tests across 1,437 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 7,321 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
65.3%
Typical Mileage
116,278mi
Annual Mileage
3,246mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
39yrs

The Nissan Urvan is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Nissan Urvan.

Nissan Urvan Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Nissan Urvan. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Nissan Urvan MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Nissan Urvan to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

70.9%
2003
65.4%
2001
63.8%
2000
65.6%
1999
64.7%
1996
65.6%
1995
64.8%
1994
62.4%
1993
65.8%
1992
65.7%
1991
65%
1990
65%
1989
68.8%
1988
59.8%
1987

Nissan Urvan Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Nissan Urvan fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Brake pipe excessively corroded 728
Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion 399
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 370
Headlamp not working on main beam 298
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 296
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 293
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 279
Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 269
brake recording little or no effort 259
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 259

Nissan Urvan Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Nissan Urvan owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
1,397 mi/yr
Typical
3,246 mi/yr
Average
4,235 mi/yr
Heavy usage
6,175 mi/yr

Nissan Urvan MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Nissan Urvan year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2003 55 70.9% 82,343 99,912 150,618
2001 107 65.4% 55,789 76,800 124,417
2000 94 63.8% 60,880 88,533 109,292
1999 61 65.6% 78,542 89,243 124,751
1996 255 64.7% 86,875 104,644 139,483
1995 948 65.6% 100,276 129,430 155,895
1994 895 64.8% 107,361 133,799 165,941
1993 572 62.4% 112,472 141,748 177,432
1992 965 65.8% 79,646 101,156 138,212
1991 802 65.7% 78,225 112,111 143,712
1990 908 65.0% 85,273 111,008 149,226
1989 640 65.0% 89,940 108,612 142,747
1988 504 68.8% 86,494 112,101 135,152
1987 224 59.8% 78,022 105,922 132,349

How Long Does a Nissan Urvan Last?

Based on 1,437 Nissan Urvan vehicles on UK roads.

Average
15.8 years
Median
15.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
39 years

Nissan Urvan Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Nissan Urvan MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
116,278 mi
75th Percentile
148,917 mi
95th Percentile
207,565 mi
Max Recorded
906,912 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Nissan Urvan

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2003

70.9% MOT pass rate from 55 tests

Year to avoid
1987

59.8% MOT pass rate from 224 tests

The best year to buy a used Nissan Urvan is 2003, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 70.9% across 55 tests. The 1987 model year has the lowest pass rate at 59.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Nissan Urvan Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Nissan Urvan THIS CAR 65.3% 7,321 116,278 mi 39 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
Fiat Punto 55 59.1% 4,420 81,068 mi 32 yrs

Compared to the Nissan Micra (71.4% pass rate) and the Nissan Qashqai (77.3% pass rate), the Nissan Urvan trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Nissan Urvan?

The Nissan Urvan has an overall MOT pass rate of 65.3% across 7,321 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Nissan Urvan are brake pipe excessively corroded (728 recorded failures), body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion (399), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (370). 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 Urvan owner drives around 3,246 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 Urvan models stay on UK roads for around 39 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.

Nissan Urvan — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Nissan Urvan reliable?
Based on 7,321 MOT tests, the Nissan Urvan has a 65.3% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Nissan Urvan?
The most common MOT failures are brake pipe excessively corroded, body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion, and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Nissan Urvan do per year?
The typical Nissan Urvan does around 3,246 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Nissan Urvan last?
Most Nissan Urvan models stay on UK roads for around 39 years based on our analysis of 1,437 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Nissan Urvan?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Nissan Urvan?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Nissan Urvan is 2003 with a 70.9% pass rate across 55 tests.