Used car guide

2022 Nissan Primastar: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2022 Nissan Primastars, from 660 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

660MOT tests in 2025
79%pass first time (all 2022 cars: 89%)
13,500typical miles a year
4×the usual rate for brake pads

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2022 Nissan Primastars than on all cars registered in 2022.

  • Brake pads4× usual
    Nissan Primastar
    18.3% All 2022 cars
    4.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.8%, against 0.8% of all 2022 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.

  • Shock absorbers6.4× usual
    Nissan Primastar
    7.7% All 2022 cars
    1.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 0.2% of all 2022 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.

  • Number plate lights12.4× usual
    Nissan Primastar
    6.2% All 2022 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 0.2% of all 2022 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 lights16× usual
    Nissan Primastar
    4.8% All 2022 cars
    0.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.6%, against 0.2% of all 2022 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.

  • Windscreen3.1× usual
    Nissan Primastar
    5% All 2022 cars
    1.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.1% of all 2022 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 2022 Nissan Primastar MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    23% 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.

  • Tyres
    22% 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
    17% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    14% 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.

  • 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
    1% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

Looking at a Nissan Primastar?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2011823Suspension 54%
2009646Suspension 54%
2008756Brakes 60%
20071,090Suspension 60%
2006850Suspension 59%
2005804Suspension 58%
2004598Suspension 62%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2022 Nissan Primastars registered in 2022. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score