Used car guide

2015 Nissan Pulsar: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2015 Nissan Pulsars, from 7,306 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

7,306MOT tests in 2025

66%pass first time (all 2015 cars: 72%)

6,800typical miles a year

3.9×the usual rate for ball joint

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2015 Nissan Pulsars than on all cars registered in 2015.

Ball joint3.9× usual

Nissan Pulsar
14% All 2015 cars
3.6%

Failed outright at MOT: 8.9%, against 1.9% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.
Brake pads1.7× usual

Nissan Pulsar
16.9% All 2015 cars
10.2%

Failed outright at MOT: 3.9%, against 2.2% of all 2015 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.
Rigid brake pipes3.2× usual

Nissan Pulsar
8.1% All 2015 cars
2.5%

Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, against 0.3% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.
Coil springs1.9× usual

Nissan Pulsar
10% All 2015 cars
5.4%

Failed outright at MOT: 8.1%, against 3% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.
Track rod ends2.1× usual

Nissan Pulsar
7.7% All 2015 cars
3.6%

Failed outright at MOT: 5.3%, against 1.8% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

Better than most

Shock absorbers: 1.3% here, against 5.2% of all 2015 cars.

By area

The share of 2015 Nissan Pulsar MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Suspension

37% 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

33% 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

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

13% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

6% 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.
Wipers, windscreen and mirrors

5% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Looking at a Nissan Pulsar?

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2018	2,002	Tyres 29%
2017	4,102	Tyres 28%
2016	6,118	Tyres 31%
2014	1,295	Suspension 44%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2015 Nissan Pulsars registered in 2015. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score