Used car guide · 1995–2007

Nissan Almera common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Nissan Almera, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 43,556 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

43,556MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
20,066on the UK register
2006best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

2007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995

What usually goes wrong with a Nissan Almera?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Nissan Almera in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Nissan Almera MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Airbag warning light

    up to 3.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004.

    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.

  • Braking performance

    up to 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Brake pads

    up to 1.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004.

    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.

  • Track rod ends

    up to 1.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004.

    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.

Nissan Almera MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2006 Nissan Almera did best (56% passed first time, 0 points above all 2006 cars) and the 2005 did worst (55%, 2 points below all 2005 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
200656%56% +03,837
200555%57% -213,653
200456%57% -110,763
200357%57% +05,913
200255%58% -35,108
200157%60% -32,077
200054%61% -7830
199954%63% -9504
199860%65% -5459 (small sample)
199752%65% -13254 (small sample)
199646%66% -20158 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Nissan Almera

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the braking performance? (Flagged at MOT 2.4× as often on the Nissan Almera as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the track rod ends? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the Nissan Almera as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the rust around suspension or steering mountings? (Flagged at MOT 2.5× as often on the Nissan Almera as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Nissan Almera?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score