Used car guide

2016 Nissan Leaf: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 Nissan Leafs, from 3,873 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,873MOT tests in 2025
66%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
6,700typical miles a year
6.6×the usual rate for ball joint

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2016 Nissan Leafs than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Ball joint6.6× usual
    Nissan Leaf
    18.5% All 2016 cars
    2.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 11.9%, against 1.5% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.4× usual
    Nissan Leaf
    14.5% All 2016 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.1%, against 1.1% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints4.1× usual
    Nissan Leaf
    4.1% All 2016 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 0.4% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Wipers2× usual
    Nissan Leaf
    4.9% All 2016 cars
    2.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 1.6% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

Better than most

Shock absorbers: 1.8% here, against 4.3% of all 2016 cars.

By area

The share of 2016 Nissan Leaf MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    37% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    36% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    30% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    11% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    9% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Looking at a Nissan Leaf?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20228,756Tyres 21%
20218,754Tyres 27%
20207,759Tyres 32%
20194,995Tyres 32%
20184,911Tyres 32%
20174,879Tyres 35%
20153,969Suspension 43%
20142,964Suspension 48%
20131,212Suspension 55%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2016 Nissan Leafs registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score