Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2012 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 2012 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 2012 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 2012 Nissan Cube reliable?

Based on MOT data from 145 vehicles, the 2012 Nissan Cube has a first-time MOT pass rate of 90.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2012 Nissan Cube?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2012 Nissan Cube are: Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (62.9% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (56.3% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (41% 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 2012 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 (2012)

145 real MOT outcomes analysed • 90.2% first-time pass rate

2012 Nissan Cube

CarHunch analysed 145 real MOT records for the 2012 Nissan Cube. 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 Compare Models

The 2012 Nissan Cube is notably reliable on test, with a 90.2% first-time pass rate that beats the UK average of 80% by a solid margin. Only 6.9% of these cars have ever suffered a dangerous defect, which is reassuringly low and suggests no systemic safety issues for buyers to worry about.

These Cubes are running at a sensible 63,135 miles median for their age, and they're turning up for MOT with just 0.41 failures per vehicle on average—signs of well-maintained examples in circulation. When you do encounter an advisory, it's typically minor (1.6 per car), so budget for routine wear items rather than structural surprises; get a pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension and exhaust condition, as these tend to be the most common wear points on this generation.

We have limited data for the 2012 Nissan Cube — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 20 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

90.2%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

6.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.41

Over 3.2 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

63k

Middle half: 47k–86k

For context

These stats describe 145 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.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 145 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 62.9%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · 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 41%

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

Other issues 25.7%

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view

Lighting 25.6%

Offside Front Position lamp not working · Nearside Front Position lamp not working

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

Suspension & steering 21.7%

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2012.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 145 Nissan Cube cars.

Before you buy a 2012 Nissan Cube

Based on MOT data from 145 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 6.9% 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%)	144	90.4%	0.4

Mileage Distribution

Most 2012 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.

63,135

typical

46,819

low mileage

86,254

high mileage

Half of all 2012 Nissan Cube vehicles fall between 46,819 and 86,254 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 46,819 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.

✓ 46,819–86,254 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2012 Nissan Cubes sit.

⚠ Over 116,442 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2012 Nissan Cube — Still on the Road

Almost all 2012 Nissan Cubes are still on the road.

Strong survival — 127 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% 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

3.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.41

Avg failures per vehicle

1.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Or browse all models: Nissan →

Compare with another model

See how the 2012 Nissan Cube stacks up against a rival.

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