Family hatchback · 1996–2020 cars
Nissan Primera reliability
The Nissan Primera fails 44.3% of first MOT tests, 8% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 13,879 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Nissan Primera before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 44.3%
- 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
- 13,879
- 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 Primera ages
Each point is the share of Nissan Primeras of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Nissan Primera | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | 43.9% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 43.8% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 45.3% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 45.9% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 46.1% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 42.6% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 44.4% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 44.1% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 42.3% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 43.3% | 37.1% |
| 25 | 40.4% | 35.8% |
By year
The best and worst Nissan Primera years
2004 cars come out best and 2002 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 Primera | 2,153 | 44.7% | 6% more fails | 91,730 |
| 2005 Primera | 3,062 | 45.9% | 8% more fails | 93,302 |
| 2004 Primera | 2,158 | 44.1% | 3% more fails | 94,939 |
| 2003 Primera | 1,764 | 44.4% | 5% more fails | 93,321 |
| 2002 Primera | 1,362 | 48.7% | 19% more fails | 88,078 |
| 2001 | 695 | 38.8% | 1% fewer fails | 82,003 |
| 2000 | 358 | 43.9% | 16% more fails | 78,855 |
| 1999 | 986 | 43.1% | 15% more fails | 91,160 |
| 1998 | 948 | 38.5% | 5% more fails | 91,292 |
| 1997 | 318 | 45.6% | 29% more fails | 87,220 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Nissan Primera
Its weak spot is seat belts and airbags: 102% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics23.5%20% above avg
- Brakes14.3%14% above avg
- Suspension13.4%12% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure9.5%11% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks8.3%21% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors7.6%3% above avg
- Tyres6.7%8% above avg
- Seat belts and airbags5.7%102% above avg
- Steering2.6%28% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Stop lamp not working 4.61% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 2
Position lamp not working 4.58% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 3
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 4.53% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 3.93% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 5
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 3.61% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 6
Airbag warning lamp shows fault 3.25% of tests
A lit airbag warning means the airbag system may not deploy in a crash, so it needs diagnosing and repairing.
- 7
Exhaust has major gas leak 3.09% of tests
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
- 8
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 2.85% of tests
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Nissan Primera's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit13.91%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive13.83%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking11.46%
- Brake disc pitted or scored9.88%
- Brake pads wearing thin8.58%
- Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear7.59%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Nissan Primera
- 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
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.
- 3
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.
- 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 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
- Petrol90.2%
- Diesel9.8%
- LPG0%
Most common colours
Silver, Blue, Grey, Red, Black
Average engine size: 1.9 litres.
Compare
How the Nissan Primera compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Honda CR-Z | 22% | 37% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Infiniti Q30 | 14.9% | 22% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Volkswagen e-Golf | 12.4% | 4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan Primera | 44.3% | 8% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Peugeot 306 | 43.7% | 10% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Hyundai Matrix | 46.8% | 19% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| DS4 | 29.4% | 45% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every family hatchback ranked in the family hatchback reliability index, or all Nissan models.
Questions
Nissan Primera questions, answered
Is the Nissan Primera reliable?
On MOT results, the Nissan Primera is about average: it fails 44.3% of first MOT tests, 8% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 39 of 65 family hatchback models in our index.
What fails most on a Nissan Primera MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Nissan Primera are stop lamp not working (4.61% of tests), position lamp not working (4.58% of tests), headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect (4.53% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 23.5% of its tests.
Which Nissan Primera year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2004 cars do best (3% more MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2002 cars do worst (19% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How do I check a Nissan Primera 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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