2006 Nissan Primera — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,368 MOT tests analysed for the 2006 Nissan Primera, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 72.8% was below the average for cars of a similar age (74.4%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 33.3% in the 150k+ group versus 17.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.9% | 870 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.5% | 459 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.1% | 442 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.1% | 268 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.8% | 255 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.8% | 254 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 486 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 376 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 322 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 257 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 256 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 204 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 36.6% | 1,600 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.9% | 1,350 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.9% | 1,305 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 24.4% | 1,067 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.3% | 624 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.4% | 583 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 34 | 17.6% |
| 30-60k | 653 | 22.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,417 | 25.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,461 | 29.6% |
| 120-150k | 634 | 29.0% |
| 150k+ | 168 | 33.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,342 | 27.7% |
| 2022 | 1,091 | 27.8% |
| 2023 | 837 | 25.9% |
| 2024 | 629 | 28.1% |
| 2025 | 469 | 26.0% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Primera
Before buying a 2006 Nissan Primera, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 19.9% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (19.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (10.1% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2006 Nissan Primeras pass their MOT?
72.8% of the 4,368 2006 Nissan Primera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Nissan Primera?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.9% of tests, followed by brakes (10.5%).
Does the 2006 Primera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.6% in the 0-30k band to 33.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,368 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.