Used car guide

2014 Nissan Leaf: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Nissan Leaf first registered in 2014: we looked at the 8,992 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

8,992MOTs of 2014 cars, done in 2023–2025
63%pass first time (all 2014 cars: 70%)
6,200typical miles a year
5.6×the usual rate for ball joint

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2014 Nissan Leaf?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2014 Nissan Leaf than on all cars registered in 2014.

  • Ball joint5.6× usual
    Nissan Leaf
    20.3% All 2014 cars
    3.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 13%, against 2% of all 2014 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 joints2× usual
    Nissan Leaf
    14.5% All 2014 cars
    7.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, against 1.5% of all 2014 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.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints4.3× usual
    Nissan Leaf
    6% All 2014 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 0.5% of all 2014 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.

  • Track rod ends1.9× usual
    Nissan Leaf
    7.3% All 2014 cars
    3.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.9%, against 2% of all 2014 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: 1.8% here, against 5.1% of all 2014 cars. Number plate lights: 2.2% here, against 4.6% of all 2014 cars.

Common 2014 Nissan Leaf MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2014 Nissan Leaf MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    44% 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.

  • Tyres
    34% 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.

  • Brakes
    34% 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
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Known faults on the 2014 Nissan Leaf

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2014 Nissan Leaf

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

  1. Have the steering column and motor switch recalls been done?
  2. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 5.6× as often on the 2014 Nissan Leaf as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the 2014 Nissan Leaf as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar link joints? (Flagged at MOT 4.3× as often on the 2014 Nissan Leaf as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Nissan Leaf?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Nissan Leaf compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023240Tyres 12%
20229,315Tyres 21%
202118,119Tyres 23%
202023,389Tyres 26%
201915,188Tyres 28%
201814,835Tyres 29%
201714,672Tyres 34%
201611,789Tyres 34%
201511,874Suspension 37%
20133,696Suspension 53%
20121,384Suspension 45%
20111,288Suspension 43%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Nissan Leaf cars first registered in 2014. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score