Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2002 Nissan Almera?

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 2002 Nissan Almera?

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 2002 Nissan Almera?

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.

How many 2002 Nissan Almera vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

28% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2002 Nissan Almera reliable?

Based on MOT data from 31,213 vehicles, the 2002 Nissan Almera has a first-time MOT pass rate of 72.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2002 Nissan Almera?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2002 Nissan Almera are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (76.7% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (74.1% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (54.2% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2002 Nissan Almera?

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 Almera (2002)

31,213 real MOT outcomes analysed • 72.8% first-time pass rate

2002 Nissan Almera

CarHunch analysed 31,213 real MOT records for the 2002 Nissan Almera. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2002 Nissan Almera is below the UK average with a 72.8% first-time pass rate against the 80% benchmark, and nearly 28% of these vehicles have recorded dangerous defects at some point—a genuinely concerning figure that puts this model well above acceptable safety standards for a buyer. Petrol versions fare marginally better at 72.9% pass rate compared to diesel at 71.1%, but neither variant inspires confidence.

At 67,176 miles on average, these 22-year-old cars show typical mileage for their age, yet they're averaging 4.25 failures and 15.8 advisories per MOT, suggesting wear-related issues mount quickly. Before committing to one, insist on a detailed pre-purchase inspection focusing on brakes, suspension, and bodywork corrosion—areas where Almeras of this era consistently struggle.

The 2002 Nissan Almera has a below-average first-time pass rate (72.8% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

72.8%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

27.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.25

Over 14.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

65k

Middle half: 51k–79k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 15.8 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 31,213 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 31,213 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 76.7%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 37%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 29.8%

Oil leak · Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Lighting 28.7%

Offside Stop lamp not working · Nearside Stop lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Wipers & washers 19.7%

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 31,213 Nissan Almera cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 1.8 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

72.9%

Petrol

29,939 vehicles

71.1%

Diesel

1,237 vehicles

Before you buy a 2002 Nissan Almera

Based on MOT data from 31,213 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 27.8% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (96%)	29,939	72.9%	4.25
Diesel (4%)	1,237	71.1%	4.27

Colour Breakdown

Based on 231,155 Nissan Almera vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 24.9%

57,647

Silver 24.1%

55,614

Red 19%

43,879

Grey 10.9%

25,283

Green 10.8%

25,050

Black 5.6%

12,852

White 2.7%

6,220

Gold 1.4%

3,277

Beige 0.3%

654

Orange 0.1%

339

Turquoise 0.1%

183

Maroon 0.1%

157

Mileage Distribution

Most 2002 Nissan Almera vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

64,784

typical

51,273

low mileage

79,447

high mileage

Half of all 2002 Nissan Almera vehicles fall between 51,273 and 79,447 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 51,273 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 51,273–79,447 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2002 Nissan Almeras sit.

⚠ Over 107,253 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2002 Nissan Almera — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 6% of 2002 Nissan Almeras are still active.

Numbers are declining — 1,204 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (6% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

14.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.25

Avg failures per vehicle

15.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Nissan Almera: All Almera years → Which year to buy? →

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006

Or browse all models: Nissan →

Compare with another model

See how the 2002 Nissan Almera stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on