Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1997 Nissan 200 Sx Touring?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1997 Nissan 200 Sx Touring?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1997 Nissan 200 Sx Touring?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1997 Nissan 200 Sx Touring?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Nissan 200 Sx Touring (1997)

106 real MOT outcomes analysed • 3.9% first-time pass rate

1997 Nissan 200 Sx Touring

CarHunch analysed 106 real MOT records for the 1997 Nissan 200 Sx Touring. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

This 1997 Nissan 200SX Touring is in serious trouble on the MOT: a 3.9% first-time pass rate is catastrophically far below the UK average of 80%, and petrol variants show a 0% pass rate outright. None of the 106 vehicles analysed recorded dangerous defects, which is the only bright spot, but the overall picture screams that age and condition have caught up with this model hard.

At nearly 96,600 miles on average, these cars are showing their age, though the low failure and advisory counts (0.05 and 0.0 per vehicle respectively) suggest that when they do fail, it's often a quick fix rather than systemic rot. If you're seriously considering one, get a pre-purchase inspection from a specialist who knows 1990s Nissans, because the MOT figures tell you these cars need expert eyes—not just a quick forecourt check.

Below average reliability 76.1% below UK average

3.9%

pass MOT first time

UK average: ~80%

ever had a dangerous defect

recorded at any MOT

0.05

avg MOT failures per car

over 1.1 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1997 Nissan 200 Sx Touring

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Nissan 200 Sx Touring

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

Inspection

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (94%)	100	0%	0
Other (6%)	6	69.4%	0.83

MOT History Averages

1.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.05

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Found a specific Nissan 200 Sx Touring?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

Other model years — Nissan 200 Sx Touring:

1998