Nissan Pulsar Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Nissan Pulsar 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 35,111 MOT tests across 5 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: small family car | Fuel: Diesel, Petrol
81%
Nissan Pulsar pass rate
81%
Nissan average
82%
All-model average
The Nissan Pulsar has an average MOT pass rate of 81%, which is equal to the Nissan average and 1 point below the average across all models in our data. Newer Nissan Pulsars pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 9 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Nissan Pulsar Fails Its MOT On
Of the 6,113 MOT tests on the Nissan Pulsar 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.
Suspension
48%Cars and vans the same age: 29% (the Pulsar fails on this more often) · Typical repair £150-£600
Brakes
26%Cars and vans the same age: 20% (the Pulsar fails on this more often) · Typical repair £80-£450
Tyres
22%Cars and vans the same age: 26% · Typical repair £50-£300
Lights and electrics
21%Cars and vans the same age: 31% (the Pulsar fails on this less often) · Typical repair £15-£200
Steering
15%Cars and vans the same age: 6.6% (the Pulsar fails on this more often) · Typical repair £100-£500
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (21% of failed tests, suspension)
- Coil spring: fractured or broken (20% of failed tests, suspension)
- Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play (13% of failed tests, steering)
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 Pulsar 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 Pulsar 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 Pulsar 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.
Nissan Pulsar Running Costs
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Nissan Pulsar FAQ
What are the most common Nissan Pulsar problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Nissan Pulsar that failed at the first attempt most often failed on suspension (48% of the 6,113 failed tests), brakes (26%) and tyres (22%). The single most common fault was "Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn" (21%). Across 35,111 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 81% ended in a pass.
Is the Nissan Pulsar reliable?
The Nissan Pulsar has an average MOT pass rate of 81%, from 35,111 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 5 points less often on average, so check the history of any example carefully.
Which Nissan Pulsar years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2015 (77% of 12,901 tests passed, against 84% for all 2015 cars), the 2014 (75% of 2,430 tests passed, against 82% for all 2014 cars) and the 2016 (81% of 10,207 tests passed, against 86% for all 2016 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 Pulsar faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Nissan Pulsar 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