What are the most common problems with a Nissan Cube?

At MOT, rust around suspension or steering mountings and ball joint are flagged more often than on other cars the same age.

What should I ask the seller before buying a used Nissan Cube?

Any recent work on the rust around suspension or steering mountings? (Flagged at MOT 2.5× as often on the Nissan Cube as on other cars the same age.) Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the Nissan Cube as on other cars the same age.) Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Used car guide · 2004–2012

Nissan Cube common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Nissan Cube, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 2,156 MOTs done during 2025), and what to check before you buy one.

2,156MOTs done in 2025, all years of this model

918on the UK register

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).

2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004

What usually goes wrong with a Nissan Cube?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Nissan Cube 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 Cube MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2025.

Rust around suspension or steering mountings
up to 2.5× usual

Stands out on cars registered in 2010.

Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.
Ball joint
up to 2.2× usual

Stands out on cars registered in 2010.

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.

Nissan Cube MOT pass rate by year

Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

Year	Pass first time	All cars that year	MOT tests
2012	81%	63% +18	131 (small sample)
2011	74%	61% +13	181 (small sample)
2010	61%	59% +2	918
2009	72%	58% +14	173 (small sample)
2008	76%	57% +19	223 (small sample)
2007	70%	57% +13	198 (small sample)
2006	65%	57% +8	116 (small sample)
2005	76%	58% +18	102 (small sample)
2004	62%	58% +4	114 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Nissan Cube

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

Any recent work on the rust around suspension or steering mountings? (Flagged at MOT 2.5× as often on the Nissan Cube as on other cars the same age.)
Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the Nissan Cube as on other cars the same age.)
Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Nissan Cube?

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 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