Nissan 300 Zx (1993)
1993 Nissan 300 Zx
CarHunch analysed 380 real MOT records for the 1993 Nissan 300 Zx. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 300 ZX's 73% first-time pass rate trails the UK average by 7 percentage points, which is a meaningful gap for a nearly 30-year-old sports car—but the real concern is that 21% of these vehicles have experienced dangerous defects, putting this model in genuinely risky territory for buyers who haven't seen a recent full inspection. These cars are running around 96,000–99,000 miles on average, which is reasonable for their age, yet they're racking up 2.6 failures and 11.7 advisories per test, suggesting ageing fuel systems, suspension components, and electrical gremlins are common.
If you're considering one, budget for immediate work beyond the MOT pass: the advisory count alone signals that cosmetic decay and minor faults are pervasive even in cars that technically pass. Get a pre-purchase inspection from someone who knows 1990s Nissans, and walk away if you find evidence of deferred brake or steering work—those dangerous defects won't repair themselves.
What to check before buying a 1993 Nissan 300 Zx
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.
- ⚠️ 21.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 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 300 Zx
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (100%) | 379 | 73.1% | 2.59 |
| Diesel (0%) | 1 | 57.1% | 6 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1993 Nissan 300 Zx vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1993 Nissan 300 Zx vehicles fall between 76,680 and 118,668 miles.
1993 Nissan 300 Zx — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 55 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (42% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Found a specific Nissan 300 Zx?
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