Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 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 2018 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 2018 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 2018 Nissan Cabstar vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

37% 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 2018 Nissan Cabstar reliable?

Based on MOT data from 405 vehicles, the 2018 Nissan Cabstar has a first-time MOT pass rate of 74%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2018 Nissan Cabstar?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 Nissan Cabstar are: Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (48.9% of vehicles), Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (40.9% of vehicles), Parking brake efficiency below requirements (39.4% 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 2018 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 (2018)

405 real MOT outcomes analysed • 74% first-time pass rate

2018 Nissan Cabstar

CarHunch analysed 405 real MOT records for the 2018 Nissan Cabstar. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 405 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2018 Nissan Cabstar's first-time MOT pass rate of 73.4% trails the UK average by 6.6 percentage points, suggesting it's a less reliable proposition than most vehicles of this age—and the dangerous defect rate of 37% is a significant concern that warrants a full pre-purchase inspection. This is a working vehicle with demands placed on it that many passenger cars don't face.

With a median mileage of just over 50,000 miles, these Cabstars have been used moderately hard for their age, yet they're averaging nearly two failures per test and thirteen advisories each, indicating that wear and corrosion are catching up quickly. When shopping for one, budget for immediate work on the failures identified in the last MOT report and factor in that you're likely looking at an above-average repair bill over the next year.

The 2018 Nissan Cabstar has a below-average first-time pass rate (74% 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

74%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

37%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.97

Over 6.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

50k

Middle half: 32k–69k

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 13 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 405 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 405 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 48.9%

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction

Brake wear 39.4%

Parking brake efficiency below requirements · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin

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

Tyre wear 37%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Inner Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

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

Suspension & steering 32.5%

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play · Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · …

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

Lighting 30.5%

Nearside Side repeater lens defective which has no effect on emitted light

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 405 Nissan Cabstar cars.

Before you buy a 2018 Nissan Cabstar

Based on MOT data from 405 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 37% 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

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 2018 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.

50,441

typical

31,534

low mileage

69,122

high mileage

Half of all 2018 Nissan Cabstar vehicles fall between 31,534 and 69,122 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 31,534 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.

✓ 31,534–69,122 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Nissan Cabstars sit.

⚠ Over 93,314 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Nissan Cabstar — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Nissan Cabstars are still on the road.

Strong survival — 366 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 95% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

6.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.97

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 2018 Nissan Cabstar stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on