Nissan
4,545 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where Skylines pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 9.6 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
87.2%
Pass-after-fix
2.8%
Fail
8.9%
Avg miles
84,228
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Could not determine Euro standard — check the V5C or use the government's online ULEZ checker.
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 4,489 tests
Pass rate climbs 1.5 points across the cohorts — newer Skyline examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.
Pass
87.0%
Fail
9.1%
PRS
2.8%
Avg mileage at test
84,382 mi
Pass
88.5%
Fail
6.2%
PRS
4.6%
Avg mileage at test
84,915 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 2,237 MOT tests, the Skyline returns 85.2% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a torn suspension dust cover. A defective headlamp lens and headlamp aim out of spec round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 86,509, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Below the fleet average — generally reasonable to insure. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
12–28
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A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
93 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
70 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated
48 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective
47 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
39 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
39 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
37 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
36 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
34 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
33 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£170–£560
If every one of this Skyline's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 1.5-point gap between bands is modest — the year you buy Nissan Skyline makes a small but real difference to MOT outcomes.
Best band to buy
88.5%
2018–2020 registration
the 2018–2020 band climbs to 88.5% — a 1.5-point improvement. Failures here are mostly wear items: ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated, has a cut in excess of the… — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. The stricter post-2018 MOT test rules meant manufacturers had to tighten up emissions and electrical checks, but this band still shows far fewer major failures on suspension and bodywork than the older fleet.
Band to be cautious about
87.0%
Pre-2018 registration
On the older band (pre-2018), the data shows a 87.0% pass rate against a fleet average of 88.5% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated, damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, and lens slightly defective. Average mileage on test for this band is 84,382 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2018-2020 (88.5% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: pre-2018 (87.0% pass). That's a 1.5-point spread across 4,359 older tests and 130 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
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Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Skyline and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.
