Nissan Almera Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Nissan Almera fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 27,323 MOT tests across 11 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: small family car | Fuel: Petrol
71%
Nissan Almera pass rate
81%
Nissan average
82%
All-model average
The Nissan Almera has an average MOT pass rate of 71%, which is 10 points below the Nissan average and 11 points below the average across all models in our data. Newer Nissan Almeras pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 4 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Nissan Almera Fails Its MOT On
Of the 4,983 MOT tests on the Nissan Almera that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Lights and electrics
52%Cars and vans the same age: 49% · Typical repair £15-£200
Brakes
30%Cars and vans the same age: 30% · Typical repair £80-£450
Suspension
26%Cars and vans the same age: 39% (the Almera fails on this less often) · Typical repair £150-£600
Body, chassis and structure
19%Cars and vans the same age: 22% · Typical repair £200-£1200
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
17%Cars and vans the same age: 17% · Typical repair £10-£350
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Stop lamp: not working (13% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Position lamp: not working (11% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively (11% of failed tests, windscreen, wipers and mirrors)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Nissan Almera Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each Almera year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
Passed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points more often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Nissan Almera Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Petrol | 1.8L | 71% | 28% | 73% (-2) |
| 2005 | Petrol | 1.8L | 70% | 29% | 73% (-3) |
| 2004 | Petrol | 1.8L | 72% | 27% | 72% (0) |
| 2003 | Petrol | 1.8L | 71% | 29% | 72% (-1) |
| 2002 | Petrol | 1.8L | 70% | 29% | 73% (-3) |
| 2001 | Petrol | 1.8L | 73% | 27% | 73% (0) |
| 2000 | Petrol | 1.4L | 71% | 29% | - |
| 1999 | Petrol | 1.4L | 66% | 33% | - |
| 1998 | Petrol | 1.4L | 74% | 25% | - |
| 1997 | Petrol | 1.4L | 64% | 36% | - |
| 1996 | Petrol | 1.4L | 59% | 41% | - |
Nissan Almera Running Costs
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Nissan Almera FAQ
What are the most common Nissan Almera problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Nissan Almera that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (52% of the 4,983 failed tests), brakes (30%) and suspension (26%). The single most common fault was "Stop lamp: not working" (13%). Across 27,323 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 71% ended in a pass.
Is the Nissan Almera reliable?
The Nissan Almera has an average MOT pass rate of 71%, from 27,323 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed within 2 points of other cars of the same age, so about average for its age.
Which Nissan Almera years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2005 (70% of 8,384 tests passed, against 73% for all 2005 cars) and the 2002 (70% of 3,079 tests passed, against 73% for all 2002 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Nissan Almera faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Nissan Almera typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Nissan Models
Common problems pages for other Nissan models