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Nissan Pixo reliability

D · Below average

MOT pass rates and common problems from 107,490 MOT tests of cars first registered 2009–2013.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
67.9%pass first time
−2.1 ptsvs typical car
Beats 38%of cars
107,490MOT tests

Verdict

The Nissan Pixo passes its MOT first time on 67.9% of tests, 2.1 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (70.0%). That puts it ahead of 38% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2009 Pixo does best (beats 42% of cars) and the 2010 worst (beats 40%).

Better than average on suspension, emissions & leaks, steering.

Watch these weak spots

Lights & electrics1.3×as often as a typical car
Visibility1.6×as often as a typical car
Brake pipes5.0×as often as a typical car
Windscreen wipers2.1×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

50%60%70%80%90%6789101112131415161779%73%70%66%64%63%
Nissan PixoTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

2009
Beats 42%
2010
Beats 40%
2011
Beats 37%
2012
Beats 28%
2013
Beats 21%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol2009–2013107,49067.9%Beats 38%D

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: 1.4% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 2.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 7.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 10.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 15.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 11.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 6.4% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 7.9% of tests fail on brakes, against 6.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 15.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 11.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights−3.4 ptsTyres: 6.4% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−0.7 ptsBrakes: 7.9% of tests fail on brakes, against 6.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes−1.5 ptsSuspension: 7.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 10.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+2.5 ptsExhaust: 1.4% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 2.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+1.1 ptsSuspension: 7.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 10.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 7.9% of tests fail on brakes, against 6.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 6.4% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 15.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 11.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 1.4% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 2.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 15.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 11.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights−3.4 ptsTyres: 6.4% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−0.7 ptsBrakes: 7.9% of tests fail on brakes, against 6.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes−1.5 ptsSuspension: 7.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 10.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+2.5 ptsExhaust: 1.4% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 2.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+1.1 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Lights: 15.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 11.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics
15.3% vs 11.9%
Brakes
7.9% vs 6.4%
Visibility
7.8% vs 4.9%
Suspension
7.5% vs 10.0%
Tyres
6.4% vs 5.7%
Body & structure
2.4% vs 3.0%
Emissions & leaks
1.4% vs 2.5%
Seat belts & airbags
1.4% vs 0.7%
Steering
0.4% vs 1.5%
Wheels
0.2% vs 0.3%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Windscreen wipers 2.1× typical
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
  • Brake lights 1.8× typical
    Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
  • Wheel bearings 4.3× typical
    Listen for a hum or drone that rises with speed.
  • Suspension arm bushes 1.6× typical
    Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering.
  • Tyre damage & cracking
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Tyre tread depth
    Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

40%60%80%100%0k10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k110k120k89%79%70%63%57%53%51%
Nissan PixoTypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Windscreen wipers5.0%2.4%2.1×
Brake lights4.7%2.5%1.8×
Sidelights3.9%2.8%1.4×
Brake pipes3.7%0.7%5.0×
Tyre damage & cracking3.4%3.5%1.0×
Tyre tread depth2.8%2.1%1.3×
Horn2.7%0.3%10.3×
Headlight aim2.6%2.9%0.9×
Windscreen washers2.6%2.2%1.2×
Number plate lights2.3%1.2%1.9×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen49.2
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning44.3
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded35.2
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning35.0
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements28.2
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn26.3
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements26.1
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen26.0
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2013 Nissan Pixo1 engine73.2% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol4,41973.2%Beats 21%D
2012 Nissan Pixo1 engine71.6% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol16,18971.6%Beats 28%D
2011 Nissan Pixo1 engine69.7% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol18,26969.7%Beats 37%D
2010 Nissan Pixo1 engine66.6% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol36,51666.6%Beats 40%D
2009 Nissan Pixo1 engine65.6% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol32,09765.6%Beats 42%C

FAQ

What is the Nissan Pixo MOT pass rate?

67.9% of MOT tests on the Nissan Pixo were passed first time, based on 107,490 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2009–2013. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 70.0% of the time.

Is the Nissan Pixo reliable?

On MOT results it rates D (below average): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 38% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Nissan Pixo year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2009 Pixo does best for its age and mileage: it beats 42% of cars on UK roads. The 2010 does worst: it beats 40%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Nissan Pixo?

The most common failure items are windscreen wipers, brake lights, sidelights. Compared with similar cars, brake pipes comes up 5.0× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.