Used car guide · 1991–2014

Nissan Figaro common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Nissan Figaro, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 6,812 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

6,812MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
2007best 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).

20142013201120102009200820072006200520042003200219921991

What usually goes wrong with a Nissan Figaro?

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

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Rear fog light

    up to 9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1991, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

    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.

  • Steering rack

    up to 5.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

    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.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

    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.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Body structure rust or damage

    up to 2.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath and along the sills for flaky rust or fresh underseal hiding it.

  • Washers

    up to 2.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1991 and 2006.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

Nissan Figaro MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2007 Nissan Figaro did best (67% passed first time, 10 points above all 2007 cars) and the 2006 did worst (60%, 4 points above all 2006 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201466%70% -4127 (small sample)
201354%67% -13106 (small sample)
201170%62% +8167 (small sample)
201063%60% +3279 (small sample)
200961%59% +2362 (small sample)
200864%57% +7554
200767%57% +10785
200660%56% +4720
200561%57% +4740
200460%57% +3521
200361%57% +4285 (small sample)
200260%58% +2128 (small sample)
199265%69% -4160 (small sample)
199163%71% -81,878

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Nissan Figaro

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

  1. Any recent work on the rear fog light? (Flagged at MOT 9× as often on the Nissan Figaro as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the steering rack? (Flagged at MOT 5.6× as often on the Nissan Figaro as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the rust around suspension or steering mountings? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the Nissan Figaro as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Nissan Figaro?

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