Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2003 Nissan Cube?

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 2003 Nissan Cube?

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 2003 Nissan Cube?

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 2003 Nissan Cube vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

31% 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 2003 Nissan Cube reliable?

Based on MOT data from 347 vehicles, the 2003 Nissan Cube has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2003 Nissan Cube?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2003 Nissan Cube are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (70.9% of vehicles), Oil leak, but not excessive (34.6% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (27.9% 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 2003 Nissan Cube?

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 Cube (2003)

347 real MOT outcomes analysed • 75.7% first-time pass rate

2003 Nissan Cube

CarHunch analysed 347 real MOT records for the 2003 Nissan Cube. 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 Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 347 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2003 Nissan Cube's 75.7% first-time pass rate trails the UK average by 4.3 percentage points, and nearly one in three of these cars (30.8%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significant warning sign for safety-conscious buyers. With an average of 3.54 failures per vehicle and 18.9 advisories, this model accumulates problems faster than most cars from the same era.

At 107,704 miles average and 104,661 miles median, these Cubes carry typical mileage for their age, so condition decay rather than exceptional wear explains the high failure count. Before buying, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the defect history and get a full MOT check report—these figures suggest deferred maintenance is common on the model.

The 2003 Nissan Cube has a decent first-time pass rate (75.7%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

75.7%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

30.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.54

Over 13.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

105k

Middle half: 82k–135k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 18.9 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 347 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 347 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 70.9%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

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

Other issues 34.6%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' · Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Tyre wear 27.9%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front 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.

Suspension & steering 17.2%

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play

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

Exhaust & emissions 16.5%

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits

Lighting 15.3%

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working · Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2003.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 347 Nissan Cube cars.

Before you buy a 2003 Nissan Cube

Based on MOT data from 347 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 30.8% 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 (99%)	344	75.7%	3.55

Colour Breakdown

Based on 3,588 Nissan Cube vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 36%

1,292

Silver 14%

503

Black 12.8%

460

Blue 11%

396

Grey 9.4%

337

Brown 4.5%

161

Red 2.9%

103

Green 2.5%

Purple 2%

Cream 1.7%

Maroon 1.6%

Orange 1.5%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2003 Nissan Cube 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.

104,661

typical

81,996

low mileage

134,943

high mileage

Half of all 2003 Nissan Cube vehicles fall between 81,996 and 134,943 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 81,996 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.

✓ 81,996–134,943 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2003 Nissan Cubes sit.

⚠ Over 182,173 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2003 Nissan Cube — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 62% of 2003 Nissan Cubes are still active.

146 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 62% of the peak remain.

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

13.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.54

Avg failures per vehicle

18.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Or browse all models: Nissan →

Compare with another model

See how the 2003 Nissan Cube stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing