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Nissan Vanette Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

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Is the Nissan Vanette reliable? We analysed 206,210 real MOT tests across 22,429 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 206,210 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
62.5%
Typical Mileage
89,565mi
Annual Mileage
5,235mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
34yrs

The Nissan Vanette is below average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, brake pipe excessively corroded and suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Nissan Vanette.

Nissan Vanette Number Plates

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

Nissan Vanette MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

60.2%
2010
61.3%
2009
71.4%
2008
71.7%
2007
66.7%
2006
69.9%
2005
58.4%
2004
66.9%
2003
65%
2002
62.8%
2001
62.9%
2000
62.4%
1999
61.7%
1998
61.1%
1997
60.7%
1996
60.6%
1995
62.2%
1994
61.1%
1993
63.2%
1992
62.3%
1991

Nissan Vanette Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 32,381
Brake pipe excessively corroded 31,566
Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 16,564
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 9,980
Stop lamp not working 9,137
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 8,850
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 8,767
Leaf spring has excessive wear in a shackle pin and/or bush 8,397
position lamp(s) not working 8,288
parking brake recording little or no effort 8,239

Nissan Vanette Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
2,894 mi/yr
Typical
5,235 mi/yr
Average
6,276 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,247 mi/yr

Nissan Vanette MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2010 88 60.2% 95,598 118,516 243,132
2009 111 61.3% 67,493 93,325 112,774
2008 84 71.4% 69,860 126,296 156,648
2007 92 71.7% 114,792 140,755 169,235
2006 75 66.7% 83,994 107,861 163,682
2005 93 69.9% 57,048 125,085 174,187
2004 113 58.4% 70,649 128,705 161,820
2003 157 66.9% 71,782 98,770 141,507
2002 18,356 65.0% 54,211 76,785 102,377
2001 43,536 62.8% 57,759 78,538 101,798
2000 38,781 62.9% 64,613 85,074 108,633
1999 30,572 62.4% 70,179 92,406 118,028
1998 23,442 61.7% 73,709 96,924 122,895
1997 17,325 61.1% 81,161 104,702 130,072
1996 12,375 60.7% 80,617 105,236 131,912
1995 6,981 60.6% 77,489 104,226 131,305
1994 3,139 62.2% 73,789 98,268 123,592
1993 2,731 61.1% 73,482 96,701 131,410
1992 2,817 63.2% 77,986 102,150 130,038
1991 1,927 62.3% 76,595 101,902 124,184

How Long Does a Nissan Vanette Last?

Based on 22,429 Nissan Vanette vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.5 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
34 years

Nissan Vanette Mileage Distribution

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

Median
89,565 mi
75th Percentile
115,591 mi
95th Percentile
160,214 mi
Max Recorded
999,933 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Nissan Vanette

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

Best year
2007

71.7% MOT pass rate from 92 tests

Year to avoid
1987

56.7% MOT pass rate from 104 tests

The best year to buy a used Nissan Vanette is 2007, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 71.7% across 92 tests. The 1987 model year has the lowest pass rate at 56.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Nissan Vanette Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Nissan Vanette THIS CAR 62.5% 206,210 89,565 mi 34 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
MG B 78.1% 191,608 39,292 mi 63 yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Nissan Vanette?

The Nissan Vanette has an overall MOT pass rate of 62.5% across 206,210 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.

The most common problems on the Nissan Vanette are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (32,381 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (31,566), and suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (16,564). 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 Vanette owner drives around 5,235 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 Vanette models stay on UK roads for around 34 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 Vanette — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Nissan Vanette reliable?
Based on 206,210 MOT tests, the Nissan Vanette has a 62.5% pass rate — below average, so factor in potential repair costs.
What are the common problems on a Nissan Vanette?
The most common MOT failures are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, brake pipe excessively corroded, and suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Nissan Vanette do per year?
The typical Nissan Vanette does around 5,235 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Nissan Vanette last?
Most Nissan Vanette models stay on UK roads for around 34 years based on our analysis of 22,429 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Nissan Vanette?
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 Vanette?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Nissan Vanette is 2007 with a 71.7% pass rate across 92 tests.