Large SUV · 1996–2018 cars
Nissan Terrano reliability
The Nissan Terrano fails 45.1% of first MOT tests, 4% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 6,372 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Nissan Terrano before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 45.1%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 4% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 6,372
- 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 Terrano ages
Each point is the share of Nissan Terranos of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Nissan Terrano | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | 46.1% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 47.9% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 47.2% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 46.2% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 44.3% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 39.5% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 47.5% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 35.7% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 41.4% | 37.1% |
By year
The best and worst Nissan Terrano years
2003 cars come out best and 2005 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 267 | 49.1% | 10% more fails | 117,711 |
| 2005 Terrano | 1,124 | 46.5% | 5% more fails | 110,105 |
| 2004 Terrano | 1,664 | 45.9% | 3% more fails | 111,066 |
| 2003 Terrano | 1,191 | 45% | 2% more fails | 108,859 |
| 2002 | 856 | 44.3% | 2% more fails | 111,419 |
| 2001 | 392 | 40.6% | 3% fewer fails | 96,726 |
| 2000 | 263 | 41.4% | 2% more fails | 100,783 |
| 1999 | 322 | 43.5% | 8% more fails | 128,943 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Nissan Terrano
Its weak spot is seat belts and airbags: 189% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Body, chassis and structure21.4%121% above avg
- Suspension20.4%20% above avg
- Lights and electrics19%12% below avg
- Brakes13.3%5% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags9.5%189% above avg
- Steering7%60% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors6.7%12% below avg
- Tyres4.3%34% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks3.7%51% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
CV joint boot split or insecure 6.12% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 2
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 5.96% of tests
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 3
Position lamp not working 5.89% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 4
Exhaust has major gas leak 4.71% of tests
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
- 5
Seat belt anchor area weakened 4.39% of tests
Corrosion near a seat belt anchor can weaken the body and make the belt fail, so expert repair is needed.
- 6
Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint worn 3.83% of tests
A worn linkage ball joint can rattle, affect handling and eventually fail, so it should be replaced.
- 7
Stop lamp not working 3.61% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 8
Track rod end ball joint excessively worn 3.3% of tests
Worn steering ball joints can affect steering control and safety, so repair is needed before the car is driven.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Nissan Terrano's MOT certificate most often.
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy19.66%
- Wheel bearing slight play15.21%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit12.63%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive11.72%
- Chassis corroded but still rigid9.95%
- Brake disc pitted or scored9.04%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Nissan Terrano
- 1
CV joint boot split or insecure
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 2
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 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
Exhaust has major gas leak
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
- 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
- Diesel98.8%
- Petrol1.2%
- LPG0%
Most common colours
Silver, Blue, Green, Black, Red
Average engine size: 2.7 litres.
Compare
How the Nissan Terrano compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz GL-Class | 17.8% | 46% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mercedes-Benz G-Class | 13.7% | 39% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mercedes-Benz GLS | 11.1% | 36% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mercedes-Benz R-Class | 27.2% | 34% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mitsubishi Pajero | 32.5% | 24% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan Terrano | 45.1% | 4% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| SsangYong Rexton | 35.6% | 36% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every large suv ranked in the large suv reliability index, or all Nissan models.
Questions
Nissan Terrano questions, answered
Is the Nissan Terrano reliable?
On MOT results, the Nissan Terrano is about average: it fails 45.1% of first MOT tests, 4% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 28 of 30 large suv models in our index.
What fails most on a Nissan Terrano MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Nissan Terrano are cv joint boot split or insecure (6.12% of tests), suspension mounting area seriously corroded (5.96% of tests), position lamp not working (5.89% of tests). By area, body, chassis and structure fails 21.4% of its tests.
Which Nissan Terrano year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2003 cars do best (about average for its age) and 2005 cars do worst (5% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How do I check a Nissan Terrano 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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