Small car · 2001–2021 cars

Nissan Cube reliability

The Nissan Cube fails 29.3% of first MOT tests, 15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 9,940 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

About averageReliability score 63/100#4 of 63 small cars

Checking a Nissan Cube before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 29.3%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 15% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 9,940; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 14,400; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Nissan Cube ages

Each point is the share of Nissan Cubes of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Nissan CubeAll cars

Nissan Cube first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Nissan Cube	All cars
3	29.2%	12.3%
4	27.7%	14.1%
5	34.5%	16.4%
6	35.8%	19.1%
7	35.3%	22.1%
8	34.1%	25.5%
10	13.1%	31.8%
11	24.8%	34.6%
12	32.2%	37.3%
13	33.5%	39.5%
14	31.4%	41.1%
15	23.5%	42.3%
16	24.8%	42.9%
17	24.8%	43.4%
18	26.5%	43.5%
19	23%	43.4%

By year

The best and worst Nissan Cube years

Nissan Cube MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2019	332	30.4%	46% more fails	81,428
2018	271	27.3%	28% more fails	88,160
2017	286	35.7%	50% more fails	96,066
2016	325	34.2%	29% more fails	105,585
2015	283	33.6%	15% more fails	109,392
2013	408	10%	65% fewer fails	57,816
2012	378	9.8%	65% fewer fails	52,019
2011	601	25.5%	25% fewer fails	71,585
2010 Cube	3,295	36.1%	1% fewer fails	78,092
2009	690	24.8%	33% fewer fails	74,528
2008	825	24.5%	36% fewer fails	71,868
2007	712	24.6%	36% fewer fails	72,063
2006	307	29.3%	27% fewer fails	77,141
2005	297	23.2%	45% fewer fails	91,692
2004	281	28.8%	33% fewer fails	102,112

Common problems

What fails most on a Nissan Cube

Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics15.5%4% above avg
Suspension10.4%14% below avg
Brakes7.2%13% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors5%9% below avg
Tyres4%40% below avg
Body, chassis and structure3.4%27% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks3.2%23% below avg
Seat belts and airbags1.3%1% above avg
Wheels0.5%4% above avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Position lamp not working 4.83% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 3.38% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
3
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 2.17% of tests
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.82% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
5
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 1.77% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
6
Rear fog lamp not working 1.71% of tests
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
7
Registration plate lamp not working 1.38% of tests
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.
8
Rear fog lamp not steady red 1.37% of tests
A rear fog lamp that is not steady red can confuse following drivers, so the bulb or wiring needs checking.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Nissan Cube's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit10.22%
Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear7.42%
Brake pads wearing thin7.34%
Brake disc pitted or scored6.88%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking6.58%
Exhaust has minor gas leak2.73%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Nissan Cube

1
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.
2
Suspension ball joint excessively worn
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
3
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
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 typical Nissan Cube covers about 14,400 miles a year. A big gap or 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

Petrol99.9%
Hybrid0%
LPG0%

Most common colours

White, Black, Silver, Blue, Grey

Average engine size: 1.5 litres.

Compare

How the Nissan Cube compares with its rivals

Nissan Cube against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Nissan Cube	29.3%	15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Nissan Figaro	36.7%	9% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
MG ZR	37.5%	7% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Rover Mini	29.1%	4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Toyota Starlet	34.6%	3% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Renault Grand Modus	47.8%	33% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Chevrolet Kalos	53.6%	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 Cube questions, answered

Is the Nissan Cube reliable?

On MOT results, the Nissan Cube is about average: it fails 29.3% of first MOT tests, 15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 4 of 63 small car models in our index.

What fails most on a Nissan Cube MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Nissan Cube are position lamp not working (4.83% of tests), suspension ball joint excessively worn (3.38% of tests), suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn (2.17% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 15.5% of its tests.

How many miles does a Nissan Cube do a year?

A typical Nissan Cube covers about 14,400 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Nissan Cube 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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