Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 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 2008 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 2008 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.

Is the 2008 Nissan Cube reliable?

Based on MOT data from 325 vehicles, the 2008 Nissan Cube has a first-time MOT pass rate of 84.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2008 Nissan Cube?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Nissan Cube are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (35.7% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (27.6% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (23.8% 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 2008 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 (2008)

325 real MOT outcomes analysed • 84.7% first-time pass rate

2008 Nissan Cube

CarHunch analysed 325 real MOT records for the 2008 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 325 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2008 Nissan Cube passes its MOT first time in 84.7% of cases, which is a solid 4.7 percentage points above the UK average—suggesting these cars are generally well-maintained. However, nearly one in five vehicles (19.7%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a meaningful concern for a used buyer.

With a median mileage of 91,460 miles for a 16-year-old car, these Cubes are running at typical wear levels, but the average of 1.18 failures per vehicle hints at age-related wear catching up. Before buying, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the specific failure patterns—the high advisory rate of 6.2 items per test suggests small niggles are common—and always ask the seller for full MOT history to check whether dangerous defects have been properly fixed.

The 2008 Nissan Cube passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (84.7%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

84.7%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

19.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.18

Over 6.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

91k

Middle half: 66k–113k

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 6.2 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 325 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 325 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 35.7%

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.

Tyre wear 27.6%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

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

Suspension & steering 14.4%

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Front Suspension arm 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.

Other issues 13.8%

Offside Front Inner Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view

Lighting 10.2%

Offside Front Position lamp not working · Nearside Front Position lamp not working · Rear fog lamp missing

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2008.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 325 Nissan Cube cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Nissan Cube

Based on MOT data from 325 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 19.7% 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 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 2008 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.

91,460

typical

66,266

low mileage

113,014

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Nissan Cube vehicles fall between 66,266 and 113,014 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 66,266 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.

✓ 66,266–113,014 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Nissan Cubes sit.

⚠ Over 152,568 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Nissan Cube — Still on the Road

Almost all 2008 Nissan Cubes are still on the road.

Strong survival — 245 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 94% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* 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

6.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.18

Avg failures per vehicle

6.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012

Or browse all models: Nissan →

Compare with another model

See how the 2008 Nissan Cube stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?