Used car guide

2021 Nissan NV250 Acenta DCI: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Nissan NV250 Acenta DCIs, from 1,000 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,000MOT tests in 2025
66%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
13,000typical miles a year
53×the usual rate for brake lights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2021 Nissan NV250 Acenta DCIs than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Brake lights53× usual
    Nissan NV250 Acenta DCI
    15.9% All 2021 cars
    0.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 12.2%, 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 lights21.5× usual
    Nissan NV250 Acenta DCI
    12.9% All 2021 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.3%, 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 pads2.6× usual
    Nissan NV250 Acenta DCI
    17.6% All 2021 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4%, 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.

  • Tread depth1.7× usual
    Nissan NV250 Acenta DCI
    25.2% All 2021 cars
    15%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.6%, against 1.3% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

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

  • Sidelights34.5× usual
    Nissan NV250 Acenta DCI
    6.9% All 2021 cars
    0.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.9%, 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.

By area

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

  • Lights and electrics
    32% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    32% 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
    27% 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
    15% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Suspension
    4% 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.

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Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2021 Nissan NV250 Acenta DCIs registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score