Van · 2002–2015 cars
Nissan Primastar reliability
The Nissan Primastar fails 52.6% of first MOT tests, 23% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 33,860 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Nissan Primastar before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 52.6%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 23% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 33,860
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 12,000
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Nissan Primastar ages
Each point is the share of Nissan Primastars of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Nissan Primastar | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 50% | 22.1% |
| 8 | 51.8% | 25.5% |
| 9 | 52.4% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 50.7% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 52.8% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 53.4% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 52.8% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 53.1% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 52.3% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 51.6% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 53.5% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 52.6% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 54.2% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 51.2% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 58% | 41.4% |
By year
The best and worst Nissan Primastar years
2006 cars come out best and 2014 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Primastar | 1,541 | 50% | 61% more fails | 103,789 |
| 2013 Primastar | 1,767 | 52.3% | 53% more fails | 115,785 |
| 2012 Primastar | 1,700 | 53.5% | 44% more fails | 126,708 |
| 2011 Primastar | 3,306 | 52.9% | 34% more fails | 128,946 |
| 2010 Primastar | 1,536 | 52.9% | 29% more fails | 134,123 |
| 2009 Primastar | 2,742 | 53.3% | 24% more fails | 134,844 |
| 2008 Primastar | 3,339 | 51.4% | 16% more fails | 139,050 |
| 2007 Primastar | 4,920 | 52.4% | 17% more fails | 144,063 |
| 2006 Primastar | 4,179 | 51.2% | 13% more fails | 147,844 |
| 2005 Primastar | 3,794 | 54.1% | 18% more fails | 145,107 |
| 2004 Primastar | 3,012 | 53.2% | 15% more fails | 154,263 |
| 2003 Primastar | 1,866 | 54.4% | 18% more fails | 148,469 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Nissan Primastar
Its weak spot is steering: 225% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics28.7%38% above avg
- Suspension25.1%43% above avg
- Brakes21.9%72% above avg
- Steering13.4%225% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors11.2%66% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure8.9%12% above avg
- Tyres6.9%14% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks4.8%24% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags4.1%60% above avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Track rod end ball joint excessively worn 9.74% of tests
Worn steering ball joints can affect steering control and safety, so repair is needed before the car is driven.
- 2
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 8% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
- 3
Position lamp not working 7.84% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 4
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 6.39% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 5
Stop lamp not working 5.38% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 6
Registration plate lamp not working 5.01% of tests
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.
- 7
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 4.26% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 8
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 4.14% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Nissan Primastar's MOT certificate most often.
- Engine oil leak, not excessive16.41%
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy15.39%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit14.63%
- Brake disc pitted or scored13.91%
- Slight play in steering rack joints8.41%
- Brake pads wearing thin7.36%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Nissan Primastar
- 1
Track rod end ball joint excessively worn
Worn steering ball joints can affect steering control and safety, so repair is needed before the car is driven.
- 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
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
Parking brake efficiency below minimum
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 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 Primastar covers about 12,000 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
- Diesel99.8%
- Petrol0.2%
- Hybrid0%
Most common colours
White, Silver, Blue, Red, Black
Average engine size: 2.0 litres.
Compare
How the Nissan Primastar compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Hiace | 35.4% | 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Vauxhall Astra Van | 45% | about average for its age |
| Citroën Relay | 36.3% | 13% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Fiat Scudo | 49.5% | 17% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan Primastar | 52.6% | 23% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Fiat Fiorino | 39.3% | 31% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Toyota Proace | 31.2% | 47% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every van ranked in the van reliability index, or all Nissan models.
Questions
Nissan Primastar questions, answered
Is the Nissan Primastar reliable?
On MOT results, the Nissan Primastar is below average: it fails 52.6% of first MOT tests, 23% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 26 of 40 van models in our index.
What fails most on a Nissan Primastar MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Nissan Primastar are track rod end ball joint excessively worn (9.74% of tests), suspension ball joint excessively worn (8% of tests), position lamp not working (7.84% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 28.7% of its tests.
Which Nissan Primastar year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2006 cars do best (13% more MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2014 cars do worst (61% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Nissan Primastar do a year?
A typical Nissan Primastar covers about 12,000 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 Primastar 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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