Used car guide

2021 Nissan NV300: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Nissan NV300s, from 701 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

701MOT tests in 2025
76%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
12,600typical miles a year
6.2×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2021 Nissan NV300s than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Shock absorbers6.2× usual
    Nissan NV300
    10.6% All 2021 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 0.3% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Brake pads2.1× usual
    Nissan NV300
    14.6% All 2021 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.6%, 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.

  • Brake lights15.7× usual
    Nissan NV300
    4.7% All 2021 cars
    0.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, 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.

  • Engine warning light10.7× usual
    Nissan NV300
    4.3% All 2021 cars
    0.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 0.4% 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.

  • Windscreen3.4× usual
    Nissan NV300
    5.7% All 2021 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, 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 NV300 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    24% 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
    24% 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.

  • Suspension
    19% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    16% 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
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Rust and bodywork
    1% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

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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 NV300s registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score