Used car guide

2021 Nissan NV250: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Nissan NV250s, from 1,469 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,469MOT tests in 2025
69%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
13,000typical miles a year
48.3×the usual rate for brake lights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2021 Nissan NV250s than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Brake lights48.3× usual
    Nissan NV250
    14.5% All 2021 cars
    0.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10.8%, against 0.3% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Number plate lights20.2× usual
    Nissan NV250
    12.1% All 2021 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.2%, against 0.2% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Brake pads2.4× usual
    Nissan NV250
    16.3% All 2021 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.7%, against 1.2% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Sidelights28.5× usual
    Nissan NV250
    5.7% All 2021 cars
    0.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.7%, against 0.2% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Windscreen3.6× usual
    Nissan NV250
    6.1% All 2021 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.1% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£300 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check for chips or cracks in the driver's view.

By area

The share of 2021 Nissan NV250 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    31% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    30% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    25% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    14% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Suspension
    3% 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.

  • Steering
    2% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

Looking at a Nissan NV250?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2020639Lights and electrics 32%
2019131Tyres 30%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2021 Nissan NV250s registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score