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Common Nissan Primera Problems, Faults, and Repair Costs

Every known Nissan Primera MOT issue, ranked by how common it is and what it costs to fix. Based on 6,903 real MOT tests across 13 model years.

Segment: family car | Fuel: Petrol

71%

Nissan Primera pass rate

81%

Nissan average

82%

National average

The Nissan Primera has an average MOT pass rate of 71%, which is 10 points below the Nissan average and 11 points below the national average. The NISSAN PRIMERA has maintained consistent MOT pass rates across model years, varying by only 2 percentage points.

Check Your Nissan Primera's MOT History

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Most Common Nissan Primera MOT Issues

Ranked by how likely they are to affect your Nissan Primera, with typical repair costs

Brakes

High likelihood

£80 - £450

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Brake discs worn, brake pads thin, handbrake adjustment needed

Failure points:

Brake disc excessively worn, brake pipe corroded, brake efficiency below minimum

Suspension

High likelihood

£150 - £600

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Suspension arm bush worn, shock absorber misting, spring corroded

Failure points:

Coil spring broken, ball joint excessive play, shock absorber leaking

Lights

High likelihood

£15 - £200

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Headlamp aim slightly out, lens deteriorated

Failure points:

Headlamp not working, brake light not functioning, indicator failure

Tyres

High likelihood

£50 - £300

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Tyre approaching legal limit, slight damage to sidewall

Failure points:

Tyre below minimum tread depth, tyre has a cut exposing ply

Exhaust & Emissions

High likelihood

£80 - £800

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Exhaust mounting corroded, slight exhaust leak

Failure points:

Exhaust emissions exceed limits, catalytic converter efficiency low, DPF warning

Steering

High likelihood

£100 - £500

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Track rod end has slight play, steering rack boot deteriorated

Failure points:

Steering rack leaking, track rod ball joint worn beyond limits

Body & Structure

High likelihood

£200 - £1200

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Surface corrosion on subframe, slight body panel damage

Failure points:

Structural corrosion, body mounting corroded through, chassis weakness

Windscreen & Wipers

Lower likelihood

£10 - £350

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Minor windscreen chip, wiper blade deteriorated

Failure points:

Windscreen crack in swept area, wiper does not clear windscreen

Is your specific car affected?

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Nissan Primera Reliability by Year

MOT pass rate for each model year, based on real test data

1993
59%
Worst year
1995
78%
Best year
1996
74%
1997
74%
1998
75%
1999
72%
2000
63%
2001
71%
2002
69%
2003
71%
2004
73%
2005
70%
2006
71%
YearFuelEnginePass RateFail Rate
2006Petrol1.8L71%29%
2005Petrol1.8L70%29%
2004Petrol1.8L73%27%
2003Petrol1.8L71%27%
2002Petrol1.8L69%30%
2001Petrol1.8L71%27%
2000Petrol2.0L63%29%
1999Petrol1.6L72%28%
1998Petrol2.0L75%23%
1997Petrol2.0L74%23%
1996Petrol2.0L74%26%
1995Petrol2.0L78%22%
1993Petrol1.6L59%41%

Most Reliable Year

1995

78% pass rate from 54 tests

View 1995 Nissan Primera details

Least Reliable Year

1993

59% pass rate from 56 tests

View 1993 Nissan Primera details

Nissan Primera Running Costs

Want to know the full annual running costs for the Nissan Primera? Including fuel, tax, insurance, and predicted repairs based on MOT history.

View Nissan Primera Running Costs

Nissan Primera FAQ

What are the most common Nissan Primera problems?

The most common Nissan Primera MOT problems are brakes, suspension, lights, tyres, exhaust & emissions, steering, body & structure issues. These are the areas most likely to cause advisories or failures during an MOT test, based on 6,903 real tests.

Is the Nissan Primera reliable?

The Nissan Primera has an average MOT pass rate of 71%, which is 11 points below the national average of 82%. This is about average reliability.

Which year Nissan Primera is most reliable?

The 1995 Nissan Primera is the most reliable year with a 78% MOT pass rate. Avoid the 1993 model year if reliability is your priority, as it has the lowest pass rate at 59%.

How much does it cost to fix common Nissan Primera faults?

Repair costs vary by issue. Brake work on a Nissan Primera typically costs £80-£450, suspension repairs cost £150-£600, and exhaust/emissions fixes cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.

Check a Specific Nissan Primera

Enter any reg plate to see the exact MOT history, defects found, health score, and running cost estimate for that specific car.

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