Pickup · 1998–2016 cars
Nissan Pickup reliability
The Nissan Pickup fails 44.2% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage, based on 5,148 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Nissan Pickup before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 44.2%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 2% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 5,148
- 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 Pickup ages
Each point is the share of Nissan Pickups of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Nissan Pickup | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | 45.7% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 38.8% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 43% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 44.2% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 44.6% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 44.2% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 45.3% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 51.4% | 40.6% |
By year
The best and worst Nissan Pickup years
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 262 | 43.5% | 6% more fails | 103,501 |
| 2007 | 281 | 42.3% | 0% more fails | 102,175 |
| 2006 | 325 | 41.5% | 4% fewer fails | 105,517 |
| 2005 | 572 | 46.5% | 7% more fails | 103,678 |
| 2004 Pickup | 1,476 | 44.4% | 0% fewer fails | 116,234 |
| 2003 | 903 | 41.4% | 6% fewer fails | 117,391 |
| 2002 | 501 | 50.5% | 15% more fails | 112,410 |
| 2001 | 268 | 38.8% | 7% fewer fails | 111,312 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Nissan Pickup
Its weak spot is number plates and vin: 145% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics20.3%4% below avg
- Brakes18.3%35% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure16.5%79% above avg
- Suspension16%6% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors10.2%37% above avg
- Steering5.1%22% above avg
- Tyres4.7%32% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks3.4%53% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags3.3%9% above avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Position lamp not working 5.42% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
Service brake excessively binding 5.17% of tests
A brake that drags when released can overheat, wear quickly and waste fuel, so it needs prompt inspection.
- 3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 3.83% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 4
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 3.79% of tests
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 5
Exhaust has major gas leak 3.73% of tests
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
- 6
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 3.69% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
- 7
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 3.3% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
- 8
Chassis corroded, rigidity significantly reduced 3.09% of tests
Serious corrosion weakens the chassis, affecting crash safety and handling, so specialist assessment is needed.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Nissan Pickup's MOT certificate most often.
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy21.39%
- Wheel bearing slight play14.18%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit11.48%
- Chassis corroded but still rigid10.76%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive8.86%
- Suspension ball joint slight play7.4%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Nissan Pickup
- 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
Service brake excessively binding
A brake that drags when released can overheat, wear quickly and waste fuel, so it needs prompt inspection.
- 3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 4
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 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
- Diesel99.7%
- Petrol0.3%
Most common colours
Silver, Blue, Red, Black, White
Average engine size: 2.5 litres.
Compare
How the Nissan Pickup compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Fiat Fullback | 17.5% | 10% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mazda B Series | 42% | about average for its age |
| Mercedes-Benz X-Class | 17.1% | about average for its age |
| Nissan Pickup | 44.2% | about average for its age |
| Isuzu Rodeo | 44.1% | 4% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Isuzu TF | 43.3% | 13% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| SsangYong Musso | 34.9% | 98% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every pickup ranked in the pickup reliability index, or all Nissan models.
Questions
Nissan Pickup questions, answered
Is the Nissan Pickup reliable?
On MOT results, the Nissan Pickup is about average: it fails 44.2% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage. It ranks 6 of 13 pickup models in our index.
What fails most on a Nissan Pickup MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Nissan Pickup are position lamp not working (5.42% of tests), service brake excessively binding (5.17% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (3.83% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 20.3% of its tests.
How do I check a Nissan Pickup 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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