Used car guide

2016 Nissan Pulsar: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 Nissan Pulsars, from 6,118 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

6,118MOT tests in 2025

71%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)

6,800typical miles a year

3.9×the usual rate for ball joint

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2016 Nissan Pulsars than on all cars registered in 2016.

Ball joint3.9× usual

Nissan Pulsar
11% All 2016 cars
2.8%

Failed outright at MOT: 7.2%, against 1.5% of all 2016 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.
Suspension arm bushes and joints1.7× usual

Nissan Pulsar
10.3% All 2016 cars
6.1%

Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, against 1.1% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.
Rigid brake pipes3.1× usual

Nissan Pulsar
5.8% All 2016 cars
1.9%

Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.2% of all 2016 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.
Track rod ends2× usual

Nissan Pulsar
6.2% All 2016 cars
3.1%

Failed outright at MOT: 3.8%, against 1.5% of all 2016 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.
Sidelights3.1× usual

Nissan Pulsar
4.3% All 2016 cars
1.4%

Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 1.2% of all 2016 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

Shock absorbers: 1% here, against 4.3% of all 2016 cars.

By area

The share of 2016 Nissan Pulsar MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

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.
Suspension

30% 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

29% 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.
Lights and electrics

12% 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

5% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

4% 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.

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%
2015	7,306	Suspension 37%
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 2016 Nissan Pulsars registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score