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

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 Cabstar?

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 Cabstar?

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 Cabstar vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

51% 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 Cabstar reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,529 vehicles, the 2002 Nissan Cabstar has a first-time MOT pass rate of 66.1%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2002 Nissan Cabstar?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2002 Nissan Cabstar are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (224.3% of vehicles), Service brake: efficiency below requirements (107% of vehicles), Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (97.5% 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 Cabstar?

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 Cabstar (2002)

1,529 real MOT outcomes analysed • 66.1% first-time pass rate

2002 Nissan Cabstar

CarHunch analysed 1,529 real MOT records for the 2002 Nissan Cabstar. 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 Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2002 Nissan Cabstar has a first-time MOT pass rate of 66%, well below the UK average of 80%, and over half of these vehicles (51.3%) have experienced a dangerous defect at some point—a serious red flag for buyers. This is a work-oriented commercial vehicle, and the reliability picture is genuinely concerning.

These Cabestars average 80,366 miles for their age, which isn't unusually high for a two-decade-old commercial unit, but the real worry is the failure pattern: owners face an average of 5.89 failures and 34 advisories per test. Before buying, get an independent pre-purchase inspection focusing on the brake system and suspension, since commercial vehicles this age rack up advisories in those areas, and the dangerous defect history suggests structural or safety-critical wear.

The 2002 Nissan Cabstar has a below-average first-time pass rate (66.1% 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

66.1%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

51.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

5.89

Over 16.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

76k

Middle half: 58k–97k

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 34 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 1,529 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 1,529 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 224.3%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Service brake: efficiency below requirements · Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort · …

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

Suspension & steering 97.5%

Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush · Offside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush · Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Tyre wear 54.6%

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

Other issues 50.5%

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' · Oil leak

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 1,529 Nissan Cabstar cars.

Before you buy a 2002 Nissan Cabstar

Based on MOT data from 1,529 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 51.3% 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
Diesel (100%)	1,525	66.1%	5.89

Colour Breakdown

Based on 28,350 Nissan Cabstar vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 53.5%

15,164

Blue 20.7%

5,869

Red 15.5%

4,404

Silver 5.9%

1,662

Grey 2%

557

Green 1%

275

Yellow 0.6%

166

Black 0.5%

136

Orange 0.2%

Maroon 0.1%

Cream 0.1%

Beige 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2002 Nissan Cabstar 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.

76,103

typical

57,663

low mileage

97,272

high mileage

Half of all 2002 Nissan Cabstar vehicles fall between 57,663 and 97,272 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 57,663 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.

✓ 57,663–97,272 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2002 Nissan Cabstars sit.

⚠ Over 131,317 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 Cabstar — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 22% of 2002 Nissan Cabstars are still active.

Numbers are declining — 201 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (22% 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

16.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

5.89

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

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

Buyer beware — pass it on