Small car · 1996–2019 cars
Nissan Almera reliability
The Nissan Almera fails 44.5% of first MOT tests, 8% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 60,198 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Nissan Almera before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 44.5%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 8% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 60,198
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- –
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Nissan Almera ages
Each point is the share of Nissan Almeras of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Nissan Almera | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | 40.9% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 44% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 43.9% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 44.1% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 45% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 44.3% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 46% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 45.3% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 45.3% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 48.2% | 37.1% |
| 25 | 41.3% | 35.8% |
By year
The best and worst Nissan Almera years
2004 cars come out best and 2000 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 Almera | 5,189 | 44.4% | 8% more fails | 84,326 |
| 2005 Almera | 18,344 | 45% | 8% more fails | 85,152 |
| 2004 Almera | 14,688 | 43.4% | 4% more fails | 85,871 |
| 2003 Almera | 8,384 | 43.9% | 7% more fails | 85,179 |
| 2002 Almera | 7,244 | 45.9% | 13% more fails | 85,105 |
| 2001 Almera | 3,068 | 44.3% | 13% more fails | 78,357 |
| 2000 Almera | 1,222 | 44.4% | 19% more fails | 74,844 |
| 1999 | 941 | 48.4% | 34% more fails | 72,656 |
| 1998 | 752 | 42.4% | 20% more fails | 80,483 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Nissan Almera
Its weak spot is seat belts and airbags: 79% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics23.3%19% above avg
- Brakes14.4%18% above avg
- Suspension11.4%24% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure8.5%3% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors7.5%2% above avg
- Tyres7%12% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks6.6%1% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags4.7%79% above avg
- Steering4.4%28% above avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Stop lamp not working 4.87% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 2
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 4.36% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 3
Position lamp not working 3.98% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 4
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 3.64% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 5
Exhaust has major gas leak 3.55% of tests
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
- 6
Dipped beam headlamp not working 3.36% of tests
A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.
- 7
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 3.26% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 8
Airbag warning lamp shows fault 2.88% of tests
A lit airbag warning means the airbag system may not deploy in a crash, so it needs diagnosing and repairing.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Nissan Almera's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit14.92%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking12.03%
- Brake disc pitted or scored11.9%
- Brake pads wearing thin8.43%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive7.99%
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy7.74%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Nissan Almera
- 1
Stop lamp not working
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 2
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 3
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 4
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol97.8%
- Diesel2.2%
- LPG0%
Most common colours
Silver, Blue, Grey, Red, Black
Average engine size: 1.6 litres.
Compare
How the Nissan Almera compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| BMW i3 | 11.7% | 28% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Skoda Roomster | 33.2% | about average for its age |
| Nissan Almera | 44.5% | 8% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Alfa Romeo Mito | 36.9% | 16% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Suzuki Splash | 35.4% | 23% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Fiat 500L | 33.7% | 30% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| MG 3 | 23.4% | 44% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every small car ranked in the small car reliability index, or all Nissan models.
Questions
Nissan Almera questions, answered
Is the Nissan Almera reliable?
On MOT results, the Nissan Almera is below average: it fails 44.5% of first MOT tests, 8% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 19 of 63 small car models in our index.
What fails most on a Nissan Almera MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Nissan Almera are stop lamp not working (4.87% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (4.36% of tests), position lamp not working (3.98% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 23.3% of its tests.
Which Nissan Almera year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2004 cars do best (4% more MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2000 cars do worst (19% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How do I check a Nissan Almera before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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