Nissan Nv200 2018: reliability & common MOT faults
Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2018 Nissan Nv200 include Position lamp (front) (~10.1× peers) and Ball joint (front) (~5.4× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (685 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.
Common faults
These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).
Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.
Based on 685 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.
Position lamp (front)
This failure pattern appears about 10.1× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 193 failed first-attempt tests; 28.2% of failed tests for this model year.
Front · 193 failures · ×10.1 vs similar cars · 28.2% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
Ball joint (front)
This failure pattern appears about 5.4× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 109 failed first-attempt tests; 15.9% of failed tests for this model year.
Front · 109 failures · ×5.4 vs similar cars · 15.9% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
| # | Fault pattern | Location | Failures | vs similar cars | Share of fails | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Individual direction indicators (front)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Direction indicators > Flashing type > Individual direction indicators
|
Front | 29 | ×18.1 | 4.2% | Possible elevated fault |
| 2 |
Position lamp (front)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Position lamps > Position lamp
|
Front | 193 | ×10.1 | 28.2% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 3 |
Individual direction indicators (rear)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Direction indicators > Flashing type > Individual direction indicators
|
Rear | 40 | ×9.5 | 5.8% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 4 |
Electronic stability control
Brakes > ABS / EBS / ESC > Electronic stability control
|
Any | 27 | ×6.9 | 3.9% | Possible elevated fault |
| 5 |
Ball joint (front)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Ball joint
|
Front | 109 | ×5.4 | 15.9% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 6 |
Linkage ball joints (front)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage ball joints
|
Front | 34 | ×4.5 | 5.0% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 7 |
Registration plate lamp(s)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Registration plate lamp(s)
|
Any | 76 | ×4.3 | 11.1% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 8 |
Coil spring (front)
Suspension > Springs > Coil springs > Coil spring
|
Front | 76 | ×3.0 | 11.1% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 9 |
Stop lamp (rear)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Stop lamp
|
Rear | 42 | ×2.7 | 6.1% | Possible elevated fault |
| 10 |
Registration plate lamp(s) (rear)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Registration plate lamp(s)
|
Rear | 26 | ×2.3 | 3.8% | Possible elevated fault |
Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).
Advisories
Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.
| # | Advisory pattern | Location | Notes | vs similar cars | Share | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Linkage ball joints (rear)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage ball joints
|
Rear | 67 | ×129.9 | 9.8% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 2 |
Individual direction indicators (front)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Direction indicators > Flashing type > Individual direction indicators
|
Front | 27 | ×75.7 | 3.9% | Possible elevated fault |
| 3 |
Individual direction indicators (rear)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Direction indicators > Flashing type > Individual direction indicators
|
Rear | 30 | ×8.5 | 4.4% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 4 |
Linkage ball joints (front)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage ball joints
|
Front | 25 | ×5.7 | 3.6% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 5 |
Rigid brake pipes (rear)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
|
Rear | 25 | ×3.5 | 3.6% | Elevated vs peers |
| 6 |
Ball joint (front)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Ball joint
|
Front | 24 | ×2.9 | 3.5% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
FAQs
About this data
Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.
PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.
Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).
Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.
Limitations.
- MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
- Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
- Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
- Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.
Display rules config: 1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.