Used car guide

2005 Nissan Primera: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2005 Nissan Primeras, from 530 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

530MOT tests in 2025
54%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)
4,600typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for brake pads

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2005 Nissan Primeras than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Brake pads2× usual
    Nissan Primera
    15.7% All 2005 cars
    7.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 1.8% of all 2005 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.

  • Airbag warning light4.5× usual
    Nissan Primera
    7.2% All 2005 cars
    1.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.2%, against 1.5% of all 2005 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.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 4.5% here, against 14.9% of all 2005 cars. Number plate lights: 4% here, against 8.2% of all 2005 cars.

By area

The share of 2005 Nissan Primera MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    45% 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
    44% 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.

  • Brakes
    40% 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
    35% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    21% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Steering
    12% 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 Primera?

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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 2005 Nissan Primeras registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score